OMG Moving is awful.
We just moved from our Port Moody condo into a rental house in Belcarra. Took us three days (so far) and we are still in the process of cleaning our condo to prepare to sell. Not sure why we thought that moving everything ourselves with no help would be a good idea, but it wasn't. We are exhausted, sore, cranky and so far slightly unappreciative of our new place (I may feel this more than Ed at this point). I hope this feeling will dissipate because the setting is lovely, close to the lake, quiet and roomy.
This post is mainly for documentation for both Ed and I to refer to in the (hopefully very) distant future for any moves we decide to do. HIRE MOVERS.
THAT IS ALL.

What I'm learning from saving money and how I'm actually enjoying being thrifty:
I can make interesting lunches and snacks
I started giggling today about how when I make snacks at work I feel like I'm camping or playing house. I have my tiny Tupperware container of butter, my compact click-together cutlery set and my Pokemon inspired plate on which I serve myself raisin toast.
My crafting and artwork is becoming more creative as I have more time to spend on it and I'm rummaging through the library to find art books that I normally would pass by in search of the newest, greatest thing.
I'm spending more time with my family. I'm home, not thinking about shopping, I'm finding great movies, playing fun games with Teagan, relaxing on the couch more and just generally less frantic.
All in all, I've come to settle into cutting back on expenses. I'm not seeing it as a threat so much as an opportunity.

Rainy weather

I woke up this morning with the attitude that the day will be depressing and dull as Mondays tend to be and the rain is continuing until who knows when.
Then I started thinking. What if I turn all of that negative thinking around and think of Monday as an opportunity to start the week fresh? Why can't rainy days with heavy cloud cover be considered a beautiful thing? When I watch my four year old get excited to break out her umbrella and pink rainboots at the first sign of a shower, I get reminded of when I was small and ran around in the forest behind our house stomping on wet moss, smelling the earthy scent of the dirt under my feet.

Podcasts
I have recently "discovered" the wonders of podcasts. Not sure what took me so long. I feel like a whole new world of entertainment has been offered to me. I don't run full tilt ahead into technologies unfamiliar to me. Instead I let everyone else in the world test them out and then I use their tips and reviews guide me. Silly I know. Really what it means is that now I've missed out on years of testing out cool stuff.
So far I've enjoyed a couple episodes from Comedy Death Ray. I ended up laughing my face off at work while I listened. As well, I've been learning a lot about American culture from This American Life.

End of Summer:
I love Fall, I really do. I love the way that the air just feels crisper, cleaner, and a bit more electric. I can't wait to pull on a snug cardigan, some cashmere blend socks and sit in front of the tv without feeling like I need to get out and do "summer stuff". Every Spring I think to myself, "Gosh, I have so many ideas for this summer" and most of those ideas get pushed to the wayside by the exhaustion that the heat induces in me or the fear that I may actually get skin cancer.

It was my first working at home day today, it was very hard to not be distracted by tv and eating all the food I could find. I even ended up taking a nap because it's hard to resist the comfy pillowtop mattress calling to me.
Ed and Teagan and I just finished watching the opening olympic ceremonies. Up until a week ago, I would not have envisioned myself watching it, I was against Vancouver hosting the olympics and still have many issues with it, but I figure that there is not much we can do about it now and seeing the amount of spirit and togetherness that comes with something this big is pretty awe inspiring.

Resurrection of a blog.
I've had the urge to write more lately, so here I am back at it. Posting Facebook status updates and Twitter "bits" is okay, but not so satisfying.
I am really looking forward to spring this year. We've had an amazingly mild winter thankfully, but seeing all of the little buds hanging out on the trees is making me really happy. I walked by one tree the other day and the way that the dew was sitting on the branches and the buds, it looked like the tree was filled with tiny Christmas bulbs.
I've been thinking about trying to be more grateful for the things I have and am able to do. Things like: I can go to yoga class and do my best at the poses, I can cook a mean macaroni and cheese and my kid is one of the funniest people I know!

I challenge you to tell me what you are grateful for!

Happy New Year!
We had a nice low-key New Years with Teagan...we ordered Pizza Hut (yum!!), played some Mario Kart on Gamecube and watched Miami Vice. Teagan didn't want to go to sleep until she rang in the new year, so she was up until after midnight-yikes, we'll get on a better sleep schedule soon. Here are my New Year's resolutions: Keep our house cleaner, keep our car cleaner, do more sewing and knitting and reading. I don't know, I don't want to be too rigid because I know I'll break all of these resolutions.

Bah. Snow.
I really love how beautiful the snow looks out my window, all whistler village like and bright, but I am getting bloody tired of being stuck at my house not able to drive my car. I just read in our local paper that the municipality has excess funds for snowplows and salters-then why the hell aren't they plowing our side streets for god's sake? Not only this but I am freaked out of other drivers fishtailing and roaring down the icy streets at 80 kms/hr. Maple Ridge is FILLED with trucks and SUV's and crazy drivers who think they are immortal.

I'm done now.

I've spent a nice evening deconstructing t-shirts and sewing a fleece baby blanket and finishing a pair of pajama pants. Woo hoo! I really needed to do this. There is something cathartic in pulling out the ol' sewing machine and just going to work on fabric with nary a care in the world. I almost reached the point of actually cutting out my dress pattern but I think I just feel like watching TV now. I'll post pictures soon.

I decided to treat myself and buy the book Sew U today-I also threw in a copy of Jane just for good measure. I'm stoked (haha, Laguna speak) to get back into sewing, as long as Teagan lets me. She's been needing more attention lately because of her teething so any projects I've wanted to work on will just have to wait, but I have so many ideas for sewing, beginning with a new lavender fleecie baby sleeping bag which should see her through 12 months and a fleece blanket for walks. I was at Fabricland tonight and picked up a few fleece remnants. For me I want to sew a couple skirts, pajama pants and work on my DKNY black dress pattern I've had for like 4 years now.

So, I am in the midst of furiously trying to finish the last 100 pages of my online book club's October selection, Little Earthquakes. It is a pretty good read. The characters are all new moms plodding through the early days of motherhood and I think it is safe to say it hits pretty close to home. I wonder what our next pick will be, I might try suggesting the new Janet Fitch book Paint it Black. I just had my nightly mug of Ovaltine and am trying not to turn on Saturday Night Live. Must. read. book.

Teagan is getting a tooth or two. She's been very drooly lately and I can feel the little tooth (teeth?) on the bottom gum. The last few days she's been in pain, I've been giving her Hyland's homeopathing teething tablets and baby Tylenol for bedtime. Last night she slept for four hour stretches as opposed to the night before when she was up every hour. I just love her so much and even more when I know she's in pain. I feel so protective of her, like a mother bear.

I really want to take an art class, something that I can do for myself so I feel creative again. I've been looking at pottery, soapstone or wood carving. I may have to wait until Teagan will be able to stay at home with her daddy and not have to nurse every couple hours. In the meantime I will refine my search and pick out the perfect class. Any suggestions?

Things I'm enjoying this week:

• Fergie's new song Fergalicious (spelling?)

• KOS's new album Atlantis

• Teagan's little giggles and squeals

• L'oreal's liquid eyeliner (Lineur Intense) in mineral grey

• St Ives Energizing citrus body wash (really wakes me up in the morning)

• Laguna Beach season 3, especially the montages of Cami that MTV puts together-Har!

• Mom and baby fitness class

• Bright crisp fall mornings

• All the new fall fashions-sweaters, skirts, tights and flats

• Lost season 3 (man, it's getting weird, but so enjoyable)

Ok, so this is how far I've come along with Teagan's little hoodie cardigan.
I must finish it before she reaches 6 months, which is in a month. I screwed up the one side as you can see, it is supposed to be in stockinette but I did the opposite for a couple sections, which means I have to mirror that on the other side which I'm working on right now. It's actually hard to screw up on purpose so I'm going to have to do some careful measuring.

This is on the way to the closest grocery store to us. It's a nice pastoral view, especially during the sunset-I tried to capture that effect but it doesn't show up very well here.

Time to brag-here's my little beauty, all alert and looking cute as a bug's ear as per usual and waiting for her mama to finish her waffles and play!

Tofurky is a wonderful thing. We had our big Thanksgiving supper last night, complete with Tofurky roast (tofu shaped like a football with stuffing inside), baked rosemary yams, Yorkshire pudding, gravy, dumplings, brussel sprouts and cranberry stuffing, pumpkin pie for dessert. It's great because we don't feel like we're missing out on the tradition of turkey at Thanksgiving. Now we can have "turkey" sandwiches with the leftovers-one of my favorite things that we used to have the day after when I was a kid.

So, I suppose it is time for me to stop wearing jewelry, Teagan has proven that earrings are for playing with. Yikes. But I love my jewelry, this is going to take some getting used to. I don't want to risk her breaking or eating any of my necklaces or earrings, so I think its better to be safe than sorry.

I was watching one of those A&E shows, American Justice or what have you...when I started thinking about the Witness Protection Program. I suddenly developed this terribly irrational fear-what if I had to be in the program, what if I had to leave everyone and everything behind to start a new life and new identity? How horrifying! Once I actually read up on it online I realized this irrational fear is just that-irrational. It's not like I'm in the mob or anything crazy like that!

Fall is a wonderful time to make pies. Pies of all sorts, tofu and veggie, blueberry, pumpkin. I was on this crazy pie kick about a week ago and made a fake chicken style pie with tofu and veggies, then another one which Ed made up with Yves Veggie Ground Round and mushrooms and gravy, then a miniature blueberry pie. I don't think I can ever get sick of pies, they are cozy and a nice full meal. Next I want to try making little Jamaican patties with fake meat, things I can pop in the freezer and grab when I'm hungry. The Robin Hood pie crust mix is great to have around, you just follow the directions on the back and place in a big pie plate, then fill with whatever you want!

I just watched the second episode of the latest season of America's Top Model. It's so funny when they get their makeovers. I'd love for the fancy big hairstylists to make me over-to get a brand new look, one I'd never even thought would look good on me (well, within reason-I have had my share of crappy haircuts-but those I believe were from inexperienced hairdressers), but it never fails, each season there are a bunch of weenies who whine and bitch about their new haircuts and start crying and saying "oh, now I'm not pretty anymore".

Hey y'all, I'm back! Not that anyone actually reads this junk, but I'll post some stuff on here soon-stuff related to being a new mom, being crafty and just funny stuff I encounter!

I may have already linked to this inspiring blog, but I'll do it again. Take a couple minutes to view her vacation slideshow and tell me you don't want to also go driving around Europe and eat luscious chocolate cake and sip cappucino by the ocean. Wow.

I've just discovered the radio feature on itunes. How fun and so many stations to choose from. Just when I was trying to not spend much time on the computer.
I did some weeding and turning over soil in the garden tonight while the sun was going down. Farley helped me by dancing around on the soil whenever people walked by. Got a compost too and it is set up now.

This plant appeared suddenly the other day. No, sorry, the plant didn't, only the flowers. I don't know what it is, but this picture was taken a few days ago and today the flower has become quite big. Doesn't smell though.

Not the best picture, but there's a lot of lavender here. A big bush of it. It smells nice and I should probably do something with it before it dies off.

Ok, next plant:
This is the little tomato plant that could. We bought it when it was all scraggly and small, and now a few weeks later look at it! Its huge! Just waiting patiently for it to make me some tomatoes. The plant actually smells strongly of tomatoes, so I don't know if this is a good sign or not. You may be able to just make out a tiny basil plant poking it's head out underneath. It has been dwarfed by mister tomato.

There's a lovely lily plant in our backyard which in the last week has started blossoming. Ed and I came home one evening and there were a bunch of buds in the midst of starting to open, in the morning many of them had fully opened. The flowers smell sweet and like Hawaii. I love how plants are sneaky and just when you think a plant has nothing to offer and wonder why someone had planted it in the first place, all of a sudden it says "hey, look at me!"

Aya Kato. I spent quite a while looking at this artist's site. Her images are disturbing and beautiful. Very unusual. Click through the illustrations, you'll be amazed.

I love the artwork of Junko Mizuno-lots of skulls, weird animals. She's put out a collection of Japanese manga style renditions of fairy tales, one is called Cinderalla, another is Hansel and Gretel.

Ed and I went to see Batman Begins in the Imax theatre last night in Langley. It was a neat experience to see a feature film on that big of a screen. I'd only ever seen short space and shark movies in Imax. We passed the Walnut Grove Community centre on the way. I'm always on the hunt for good community centres and when I searched online for this one, here's what I found (click through the other pictures too). Pretty nice hey? It looks really open and bright and what could be nicer than swimming while watching the sunset. The great thing is that it is only a 15 minute drive from our house. I'll give a full report when I've actually visited the place.

I've taken advantage of what little sun we've been offered lately. Ed and I ventured out to Whonnock Lake today (take the virtual tour!), a 15 minute drive from our house. This is a smaller lake with some boggy bits at the edge, but far warmer than the water at Allouette Lake where we went last weekend and almost froze to death under the threatening rain clouds. Anyway, we had a nice swim, I enjoyed a Drumstick ice cream and then we headed home.
I am astounded at the amount of forested areas and outdoor recreation options that Maple Ridge has.

Okay, so Ed and I are in our new house now-two weeks it has been. Why do we feel like we're on vacation and this is someone else's place? I'm wandering around thinking I'd better be careful with everything because we'll be giving it back.
I'm home sick from work today-first sick day I've taken at this job. I've had so much sleep and it has really helped. Our pets are overjoyed that I'm here hanging out with them.
I haven't had much of a chance to enjoy our backyard, so I think I'll go out there and knit or read one of my ten or so books I have out from the library. It just doesn't seem right to watch tv on a nice day.

I'm enjoying some of Snoop Dogg's music lately: Signs (with Justin Timberlake) and Drop it like its Hot. The songs are so catchy and pretty cheesy but good for a breezy summer day.
I listened to Joanna Newsom the other day and was disappointed-I wanted to hear her music after reading the article about her in Venus a while ago. As a fan of the harp, I figured I'd like her, but she sounds like she's trying to be an old woman (I confirmed this suspicion by reading some reviews).

I really enjoy reading Drawn (where I found the link in the previous post). The site is updated all the time which is great.
The newest Bust magazine just came out and I've already perused the music pages and downloaded songs from both Amerie and Scout Niblett who reminds me of Cat Power and Feist-two of my favorites.
Ed and I are moving in much much less than a week and although it should show in the amount of packing we should have done, it doesn't. I'd much rather sit and download music like a lazy thing in front of the computer. I know I will curse myself on Thursday for this.

I've never run across the work of Souther Salazar but I love it. I think of J. Otto Seibold and really crazy children's book illustrations from books my Mom had saved from the 50's and 60's.

I love this pillow (just the right amount of pretty and creepy all in one) found on fabulous Morning Craft. If I happen to run across a spare 80 bucks American I'll buy it.

Ed and I took Farley to have his hair cut today on Main Street and now he looks like Bambi crossed with a terrier, his legs are so long and gangly and sort of fly out to the side when he's running. Anyway, on the way back home after stopping in a few of my favorite clothing stores, we came across a fairly new electric bike store called Voltage Cycles and although not in the market for an electric bike found that they have tons of awesome toys and t-shirts including a bunch of both from Gama-Go. I bought a Gama-Go t-shirt a while back without knowing who they were just because I liked the little ninja cat on it and then was in search for some of their other designs. I was so happy today when I saw them all at this store. I bought a shirt with a big line art dragon breathing fire on it. They also have a bunch of Threadless shirts as well which are hard to find and are all designed by different people competing for best shirt design.

I won't be eating another KFC veggie burger. Word has gotten out through PETA that they torture their chickens. I read both Fast Food Nation and The Food Revolution: How Your Diet can Help Save Your Life and Heal the World a couple of years ago and somehow (naively) thought that because of the exposure that many fast food companies would have changed their practices. Some have, but looks like KFC hasn't and is instead just evil.

There is something tasty and new in the fast food kingdom. KFC is doing a test run of a vegetarian "chicken" burger here in Vancouver. Ed and I tried it and it was very flavourful and a bit crunchy. The patty was much like the Schneider's veggie "chicken" patty which is breaded (and tastes real good with cheese melted on it with pasta sauce over top).

I've been on a big running kick for the past week. I've ran about four times and am loving it. Its really been lifting my spirits to go outside and do a few laps in the park while the evening sun is still glowing. Of course having my Ipod Shuffle along doesn't hurt either.

I am playing with my new Ipod Shuffle that Ed just gave me for my birthday! I love it and am fascinated at how tiny it is and how much information it can hold. I just love miniature things.

I saw this link on Loobylu: people's studio spaces. Fantastic! I love seeing these as I am trying to plan what I want in my art/craft room in the new house. I realize though that every one of these features hardwood floors and mine will have carpet, which obviously will be terrible if I decide to paint or do any sort of messy crafts. Some of the studios shown are so incredibly tidy and organized its ridiculous.
I think the key for any living space as well, is good lighting.

Rats:
Ed has been wanting a pet rat for a while, so he and I bought a couple (two as they get lonely on their own). Although rats used to creep me out-especially their tails, I actually warmed up to the idea of having them once we started trolling all the pet stores. I'll try and post pictures of them soon. Ed's rat is named Inari (yes, after the Japanese tofu/rice pouches) and mine is yet to be named.

Ed and I went to see Born into Brothels today. It was pretty amazing, I'd recommend going to see it.

I am working on a little dark denim pouch which will feature a red and white gingham band, with a white lace style trim peeking out and a deer applique. I'll try posting pictures of the work in progress when I get a chance.
I'm finding that even though I have lots of time this weekend to be doing crafty things and such, I am still not motivated and really just want to lie down and nap. I think I'll try doing something small like making my octopus cross stitch pattern and then hopefully that will motivate me to do other stuff.

This is great too.

I love this online store: Schmancy.
So many crazy toys!

Oh, am I excited for a four day weekend. It shall begin with a bagel and cream cheese then shopping for fun things at the mall.
Not much planned yet but I can tell you that I will be trying to squeeze in as much sleeping and lazing about as possible. I really want to work on some craft projects but what I really want to do is plan out my craft room for the new house.

EEK! This thing is bloody creepy,but as you can see from the many postings on craftser in response to it, other people want to make one too (and so do I...sort of...)!

Pretty. 

I sat in a Smart Car today (picture above) and now I want one.
The thing I find most hilarious about these crazy beasts is that the colour panels can be snapped off by a Smart Car service person and changed to make a whole newly coloured car.

Pretty eggplant which I want to grow in the garden I have been dreaming about.

Ok, so I may have already posted about this a while ago, but it is so damm tasty I have to post about it again. Boursin cheese. It is completely and utterly addictive.

I took advantage of the warm sunny day today to go for a big walk downtown. I took the Aquabus from Granville Island. It felt great to get some sea wind even if it was only for two minutes.
I have been planning a vegetable and herb garden to plant in the backyard of the new house. I do not want radishes as they are evil and gross...but I am willing to try growing eggplant and cucumbers and carrots and lots of lavender.

The following are pictures of the house that Ed and I just bought!

Powder room 

Staircase 

Front/side of house 

Neat site found through Month of Softies.

Ed and I went to a party last night with really good food, and I just had a sudden urge to make cool appetizers to eat while watching the Oscars. For instance, these cherry tomatoes filled with goat cheese and stuffed cucumbers (hollow out cucumber wheels and fill with tomatoes and goat cheese feta and cilantro and some oil and vinager dressing). I've also added crispy baguette pieces with hummous.
I've always thought that making party food takes way too much effort and coordination for my taste. But I have now discovered it is very much like making crafts, where you get really absorbed in the process and making things pretty (especially when bright colours are involved) and the end result is usually impressive. Plus it feels decadent to have such things without having a party.

I've been waiting so long to buy a pair of these John River birch knitting needles. Lovely aren't they? I have been working diligently on the spiderweb capelet in Stitch N Bitch Nation, only to read the postings on Craftster about the changes in the pattern. I am going to have to rip it out and start again...but not without my lovely new birch needles. I'm convinced they'll make all the difference, kind of like a magic wand...maybe they'll even knit the darn thing for me.

I was overjoyed to be walking around outside in the beautiful sun in the middle of February wearing a t-shirt and no coat. Tomorrow will be fabulous as well, getting up to 16 degrees.
I am getting so sick of wearing winter clothes, they feel so heavy and scratchy.

I've almost finished a can of dry roasted madadamias and could eat five more cans. I cannot get over how wonderfully wonderful they are and oh so addictive.

5:45am: We are rudely awakened by the thundering sound of a large van careening down the street and flipping onto its side and a Jeep driving through a chain link fence. I think we've now phoned 911 about 10 times in total for the number of accidents we've heard/seen right outside our apartment window.

Ed and I have been researching buying a house or townhouse within the Lower Mainland. We went for a drive today and managed to eliminate two whole cities due to distance and unattractiveness. I have been checking out the Multiple Listing Site for affordable areas and just for comparison's sake looked at Novia Scotia (where nobody wants to live??) and came across a big 3 bedroom house for $7,900! Shocking.

I love Sara Varon's art. I have her book Sweaterweather and am eagerly awaiting her other publications, one of which is due out this spring. If animals were like humans, this is how I'd imagine they'd be. This is a really nice site too.

I was out for strike duty again today. Brought the big ass thermos full of Creamy Earl Grey tea and a delicious bagel sandwich. We played frisbee and someone brought a camping stove. I must say, I've never before seen picketers actually doing anything other than picket-hoping we won't get in trouble for having fun!
I am quite tired though and surprisingly feel as though I've been in the sun too long-feel slightly sunburned. I'm not complaining though, it was great being outside with beautiful weather today.

Today was so gorgeous and sunny and breezy, so I took a big walk downtown and perused some stores and the library. I spent a while in Le Chateau...their jeans are actually not too bad, didn't buy any, but now I know where to look if I need some. Went into Cheap thrills as well (a favorite store of yesteryear) and now just feel way too old to be in there. I found myself getting angry at their music (someone has butchered one of my favorite Smiths songs: There is a light that never goes out) and being astounded that vinyl purses are now 90 bucks.

I went to the gym today at my work. There is simply no excuse for me not to go. It is free for employees plus there's a great new steamroom and nothing makes my skin feel better than being in a steamroom. I had to muster up an astounding amount of energy to drag myself there, but as usual felt a million times better after. I could literally feel my stress melt away. Then I promptly ate a chocolate bar and felt even better.
I have rented two movies: Ray and Vanity Fair (which I've wanted to see for a while-I've heard the costumes and sets are amazing in that one.)

I forced myself to be calmer at work today. I made tea (Creamy Earl Grey and Yoga tea) in my new little teapot and tried to convince myself that I can only do so much in one day at work and stressing out to a high degree about it won't help me at all.
Course it's hard to practice what you preach.
I ventured into T&T Supermarket after work to get some bin bin crackers (a lovely combo of sweet and sour) and red bean pastries.

This is fun.
This is terrifying.

I may want to make a new felt toy and submit the picture to Month of Softies (from Loobylu).

I have started making a spreadsheet for knitting projects. It'll be an efficient way of keeping track of what needle sizes and yarns I'd use for each custom pattern and how many stitches to cast on etc...I know I will forget and have to go back throught the painful trial and error system I've been working by since now. I don't want to do that anymore.
I bought a cross stitch kit from Smoking Lily today. It is an octopus and I am hoping to stitch it directly onto a t-shirt. I understand that if you do the cross-stitch backwards then it can go directly onto fabric, otherwise It'll have to be on the fabric stuff they include in the kits. Wish me luck.

It snowed again last night. It was sort of lovely and quiet. I miss when I was a kid, walking through the trails behind our property and everything was untouched and fluffy like a movie set. Unfortunately it has all turned to slush today as it rained for the rest of the night.

I am tempted by the new ipod shuffle.

Ok, so it is strike day today and I am trying to see just how many layers of clothing I can fit on myself while still being able to move. I'm at a standstill now though, do I wear my wool ski sweater or a big fleece as the final layer under my coat? I really want to bring this massive 70's green thermos from my mom filled with coffee, because that just seems so "strike" to me-oh and gotta find a barrel.

Wow. This page is really funny.

I've been bullied into creating more posts on my blog (hee hee, just joking leanne!).
Winter snowy coldness makes me inspired to craft and make things and logging those processes will hopefully kick my butt into gear. Although, the only thing I will be making this evening is some macaroni and cheese.
I am now officially engaged (big, big news!). Ed proposed to me on Saturday-I am a very happy girl!!
It is the big strike day tomorrow at work and I must report at 10am sharp to picket. First strike ever and first union ever too. How exciting, but I have to dress really warm as it is damm cold outside to stand for 4 hours. I briefly considered knitting while striking, but I think my hands will me sufficiently mittened.

I found some old charcoal in my drawer and started sketching tonight. I love using charcoal and conte, but I can't seem to find my conte anywhere...
It's so cathartic to make quick sketches, I've got this big pad of newsprint on the table and whenever I walk by in between cleaning, drinking chai tea, I add some stuff. I found my wood carving set from studio class in my drawer as well...may get some lino and do a print.
I think it's time to check out the Apprentice in a moment, see what they're all up to...

I was just at a training session at Crisis Centre for the Youth in BC online program. It's a really neat new program where volunteers-such as myself can chat with youth, in BC or anywhere really, in an MSN style thing. It's great because rather than phoning in and getting shy, they can be more anonymous. The only thing I'm a bit afraid of is not knowing the chat room lingo: ROTFL, or IOH (rolling on the floor laughing, or I'm outta here. Yikes, I'm not up with the kids anymore. Jess, I'm sure you come across the lingo in the classroom hey?
I found myself watching Oprah today, she announced her new book club selection, a Pearl S. Buck book. When will she select books that are by new authors?
I made a lentils and rice stew type thing for supper; it really wasn't as exciting as it sounds though and really, I was just hungry after eating it. I think what it was missing was cheese.
I think it is time for a hot chocolate across the street, where I will do some reading, or knitting.

Ed and I went to see Garden State tonight after work. It was written and directed by Zach Braff-of Scrubs fame. It was great, a little offbeat, zany, cute, sad.
The sunset was just a nice warm salmon pink bright enough so I had to close my eyes, I though of sitting on the roof but sunsets always go away before I can go up there.
Dinner tonight will be pretend "chicken" meat with green peppers, onions and black bean sauce.

It is PNE day today. A day of mini donuts, corn on the cob, the Superdog show, and maybe one ride. Fairs make me nostalgic. I love all the junk that's sold, little crappy foam creatures, people with microphones delivering sermon-like speeches on the "next big miracle in cleaning."
I remember being a kid and fascinated with all the flashing and glowing lights and sweet cotton candy smells floating through the midway. I always got sick on the spinny rides but couldn't stop myself from going on. The thrill of feeling like you're going to fly off the tracks or be flung off the Pirate Ship.
I just had to call the city pound on some jerk who had left his Doberman in a locked truck for over 24 hours now. The guy at the pet store said he'd seen the guy giving the dog food and water this morning. But when I went by, the truck was in the sun and the dog was panting.
I was advised to call 911 by the lady at the pound, but when I went out to double check the truck was still there, of course it was gone. Probably moved to a new location.

I had a good and productive morning. Went for breakfast with Tanya at Solly's Bagelry. We wandered Main Street in search of shops that were open as everything opens at noon. We did however go and buy jeans at this discount jean store.
It is Comix and Stories today where Ed and the Bent comics crew are hawking their wares (comics and the Gravyard DVD and their drunken rap CD. I visited them and tore myself away from buying two books from one of my favorite artists: Genevieve Castree. One was Pamplemoussi, which includes an LP and a graphic novel and the other is Lait Frappe. You can check out some of her art from Pamplemoussie here...beautiful stuff.

I just had macaroni and cheese with Schneiders veggie wieners. I've been cleaning the apartment this evening. I thought it was time as I was tripping over balls of dog fur in the corners. I've been burning Jasmine oil in my new little essential oil burner from Daiso, and listening to Ed's new Roots CD.

Arrggh
Must clean apartment. Now. I keep running into little balls of dog fur everywhere. The part of cleaning I really hate is the starting part...it isn't so bad, and can actually be rejeuvinating and fun, once I get started. Of course this is why I'm playing on the computer, so I don't have to start. I'm listening to Ed's new Roots album and burning jasmine oil in my new little white essential oil burner.
Ok, the motivation has gripped me, wish me luck!

Leanne and Tanya and I went to Daiso tonight-the big Japanese department store where everything is two bucks. I bought a little white essential oil burner which is sitting all glowy in the bathroom right now with lavender and orange oil in it. Smells like a pretty meadow; much better than wet dogs.
Also bought a little mini eyeshadow and blush container- I love miniature things, even comes complete with a mirror.

I went to Michael's Crafts today with my Mom to buy a stitch marker for my knitting. We ended up spending a while there. They're pretty overpriced, but some good inspiration for crafts. I saw some cute old fashioned black typewriter key bubble stickers. I thought that if my kid self was in there during my sticker collecting days, I would have gone through the roof with the racks and racks of shiny, sparkly and kitchy stickers. There were also some Victorian era ones-dress up girls.

The Post Punk Kitchen is a neat vegan cooking site,based on the TV show from Brooklyn. I haven't yet tried any of the recipes, but the reviews look good. I have made tofu balls before, which were almost exactly like these. Ed and I had them at Christmas with a mushroom gravy on top, pretty yummy-the key is the peanut butter-I guess you can use any nut butter though-to bind them together. I may try the Jerk tofu as well. I'll let you guys know.

OOOH
Just saw that new Bust is out August 31st!
I live for these things.

I was music shopping yesterday and noticed so many new albums from old favorites have come out recently: the Cure, Morrissey, the Orb, Tanya Donnelly. Like a big ol' blast from the past.
I may need to buy the Morrissey album at least, sounds pretty good.
I've been watching some of the Olympics, like the marathon yesterday-so dramatic and exciting. I though it was all over yesterday until I turned on the TV and its still going on! When does it end? It will be tiresome soon.
Its nice and cool out today, sweater weather again and curling up with coffee. I've got to work later but must do my piles and piles of laundry first.

Just saw Napolean Dynamite today. It was great! The best movie I'd seen in a while. Nerds rule! Something I didn't know: Haley Duff-older sister to Hilary- is in it too.
It's been a rainy rainy day here, not quite chilly but milder than usual, grey skies, but the blinding heat was getting tiresome.
It's night now. Streetlights are glowy in the rain and the roads are shimmery, looks like evening in a TV show about the suburbs. I wore my sweater and fuzzy winter boots. I can't wait for fall.

I worked at the Kitsilano Book Warehouse today. On the way home I kept seeing Bif naked everywhere, wandering around chatting on her cell phone (wanting to be seen of course). I'm such a dork, cause as soon as I saw her I started singing her song "tango shoes" in my head and then started humming it. I stopped just in time as she wandered right by me again.
I am in shoe shopping mode. I want these shoes, or something similar to them, maybe like these, or the pink ones at the end. I resisted the pointy toes kind for so long, but they might look alright with jeans-not too much of a heel.

I cannot quite believe how much of a time waster sites like this are.
Anyway, I'm sitting around playing on the internet, drinking really strong coffee from my Bodum. Sometimes really strong coffee is all there needs to be. I've got a headache since yesterday that will not go away. I went to a couple galleries on Granville street yesterday with my mom. I never think about doing that, just walk by, thinking "that's just a store, why do I need to go in there". But there is always some great inspiration inside.

Ed and I arrived back in Vancouver early yesterday morning from Saltspring Island. Our five day trip was just time enough to relax, get to know the island a bit, swim in the lake.
I became obsessed with blackberry jam after our cabin host left us some that was homemade for our breakfasts. I hunted high and low for two days before finding some at the Ganges Saturday market, which by the way is one of the nicest outdoor markets I've seen in a while, save for the cool flea market one in Paris.
I really want a garden now, seems like most of the island is filled with either farms, or wild gardens.

There are a bunch of web comics I've been reading lately, thanks to Ed finding them. These include Cat and Girl, and Achewood. More things to keep me on the internet. I'm going down to the ocean with Ed. I will swim. But first, "Moolattes" from Dairy Queen. I'm hoping they are as satisfying as the Tim Horton's Iced Cappucinos. I love summer drinks. Sunset's at 9:15 tonight, gotta go.

I like the comic series Artbabe by Jessica Abel, and I was just on her site and found she has a DIY section on how to draw comics (remembering that everyone's style and process is different). This is good because I keep feeling like I want to try my hand at drawing comics. It is a bit intimidating for many reasons: much skill seems to be involved, patience, and motivation. Anyway, I may just try going through her steps, see what I come up with. Wish me luck.

Ok, here is the best time waster there is on the internet today: Portrait Illustration Maker
I spent, I believe three hours altogether today creating all the different Nans I could. I'll post the latest as soon as I figure out how.
It'll change I'm sure.