chaifae

New blog

2008-10-16T21:30:00.001-04:00

I have made myself a brand spankin' new blog. Well, it's not all that new. But that's where I'll be. Come visit if you'd like.

It's a beautiful day

2008-06-06T18:49:00.004-04:00

Goslings who were hanging around outside the office yesterday.

Well, at least it's beautiful now that the temperature is starting to cool off a wee bit. Today has been a decent day:

I managed to keep to my new early schedule of taking a good hard 1/2 walk first thing in the morning. I started this new schedule on Monday and kept it up every day this week.
a few co-workers and I flocked to a neighbourhood patio at lunch today for foods and drinks.
the afternoon at work was spent setting up a fun photoshoot
I took my bike in for a tune up, which should be done by this Wednesday and I'll be able to start riding it
I had a quick but sweet visit with the woman we are renting our parking space from, and gave her payment for the remainder of our time here. She is so old and so small and so sweet, and she told me that she wants to have a visit before we leave for Vancouver :)
I finished the first draft of this month's volunteer newsletter and sent it off to the proofreaders
my glass is full of yumminess. The boy disagrees on the yumminess of my drink. But it is, in fact, full of yum: brandy, pure cranberry juice, club soda, lemon juice and a splash of black cherry concentrate overtop ice cubes. Yumminess.

Now, to go sit on my behind on the couch. Maybe I'll watch a movie while the boy learns ActionScript 3. Maybe I'll read. Maybe I'll take some photos. Or maybe I'll nap with a kitty sitting beside me.

I love lazy nights.

Tomorrow - the Riverdale Art Walk, maybe brunch at Le Cafe Vert or Pulp Kitchen and some dancing to finish off the night. Sunday will be brunch at Fressen and a trip to MEC to buy a couple of things for our trip to Iceland. Oh yeah. A good weekend is in store.

There is no Fressen in Vancouver

2008-06-05T15:08:00.002-04:00

So, I'm just going to have to make trips there as much as possible before October. Like this Sunday. For Tofu Rancheros – the best in the city, in my opinion.

KFC Canada adds vegan 'chicken' to menu

2008-06-02T13:47:00.002-04:00

Wow. Just found this article on the Toronto Star's website. I doubt I will ever eat at KFC, but I'm glad to see that they're making some huge attempts!

Following a five-year roasting by animal-rights activists, KFC Canada is promising improved welfare for the chickens it buys for its fast-food outlets in exchange for an end to a boycott campaign that will continue in the U.S. and elsewhere.
The Canadian Press has learned that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has agreed to call off its Canadian "Kentucky Fried Cruelty" campaign, which featured high-profile actress Pamela Anderson among others, following a signed agreement with the company.
Among other things, the deal obliges KFC Canada to begin buying from suppliers who use gas to kill their chickens painlessly, considered to be the least cruel method of slaughter.
The company is also promising to insist on other "animal-welfare friendly" measures relating to how the birds are kept, including a maximum on crowding and phasing out non-essential growth-hormones and other drugs.
Customers of the popular restaurant chain will also be able to order a vegan "chicken" item, according to the deal that followed almost seven months of at-times "sticky" closed-door negotiations.
"It's going to drastically reduce the suffering of chickens in slaughterhouses and also . . . improve the living conditions for animals while they're on the farm," Matt Prescott, PETA's assistant director of corporate affairs, said from Norfolk, Va.
KFC Canada president Steve Langford said he was delighted with the agreement.
"It will be nice to put this behind us," Langford said. "Our preference is to have nothing negative attached to our brand."
Langford said the Canadian operations, which are independent of those in the U.S., had chosen to take the situation into its own hands and talk to PETA about animal welfare.
"Once I got involved and we actually met face to face, we found out that we had no differences of opinion about how animals should be treated," Langford said.
"We landed in a very good place."
PETA's campaign, which garnered international attention, has included more than 12,000 protests at KFC restaurants and outside the homes of company senior executives.
Demonstrators, who have included former Playboy pinup Lauren Anderson, have burned effigies of company icon, Col. Sanders. Other notables such as Paul McCartney, the Dalai Lama, and Chrissie Hynde have participated in the campaign.
KFC Canada was also thrown on the defensive three years ago when PETA released horrific video showing poultry workers torturing chickens in the United States.
The company is owned by Priszm Income Fund, based in Vaughan, Ont., which operates 465 outlets across the country. The fund has been struggling to stem a flow of red ink and shore up falling share values.
Most of the 300 independent franchisees have agreed to abide by the agreement with PETA.
"It appears as though our campaign affected the bottom line to the point where the company finally had enough," Prescott said.
"That said, I also believe that KFC in Canada is genuinely concerned about animal welfare."
While the anti-KFC campaign will now end in this country, PETA said it would continue in the U.S., the U.K. and other countries. However, it is hoping to persuade Yum Brands, which owns KFC outlets in the United States, to follow the Canadian lead.
"With KFC Canada now doing exactly what we want KFC in the U.S. to do, our members and activists will be even more energetic and invigorated about going after KFC in other countries," Prescott said.
"All we want is for KFC worldwide to do what KFC Canada has done."

The Simplifying Project: The Clothes Edition

2008-05-31T14:27:00.002-04:00

I figured the Book Edition would be next, but I have a clothing swap to go to tomorrow - so it's the Clothes Edition! I definitely plan to come home with much fewer items than I bring. Much fewer.

How happy am I?

2008-05-28T16:45:00.003-04:00

Very happy. That's right - tonight we are getting take out from the Armenian Kitchen.

That's all I'm going to be thinking about for these last 45 minutes of work.

Ewok on an Imperial Speedster

2008-05-23T15:16:00.002-04:00

The boy was slightly concerned about the 8-hour mountain bike race he's doing tomorrow, until he read this on the website:

"If you’re looking for a grueling, lung-bursting ride to the top of Mount Olympus, you won’t get it here! The course at Mansfield, despite the uphill start, is a smooth, flowing course that even the greenest of novices should master like an Ewok on an Imperial Speedster."

Of course we had to collaborate on an illustration of this last part :)

Spreading the news.

2008-05-23T11:09:00.002-04:00

Vegan bloggers all over the place are posting about Oprah's 21-Day Cleanse diet, so I thought I'd jump right in and help pass along the story. For 21 days, Oprah is going vegan (and wheat-free, caffeine-free and a buncha other -frees) and is posting about her experiences on her website. Some people are talking about how this is the best thing to happen to veganism - sure, the publicity is great, and the awareness it brings to the health and ethics aspects of veganism is awesome - but I'll wait to see how the next 3 weeks go before getting too excited.

How do you recycle your teenage years?

2008-05-22T09:58:00.003-04:00

05-21-08
Originally uploaded by offshoot

Over the years, I have whittled down my cassette collection. I have tossed all the mixed tapes and kept most of the professionally produced ones. Now, I am ready to move on, but I'm having trouble finding recycling facilities for cassette tapes in Ontario, which means I may have to ship them to the US. I guess eBay is another option for some of these babies, but most really just need to be put out of their misery.

Some of these I have had since I was 12 or 13. My youth is dying every day.

Letter From A Vegan World

2008-05-21T14:44:00.003-04:00

Found on Animals in the Press, originally posted to the Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary blog. I hope it's okay that I'm reposting. I got choked up while reading it and wanted to spread it around...

Dear Friends and Fellow Activists,

At a time when most animal rights organizations are actively promoting, advocating and rewarding “humane” animal products and farming methods, I am writing to you on behalf of three of the recipients of that mercy.

To the industry, they are known as production units #6, #35, and #67,595. To the “compassionate” consumer, they are known as feel-good labels: “organic dairy”, “rose veal”, “free-range eggs”. To welfare advocates, they are known as “humane alternatives”. To each other, they are known as mother, son, sister, friend. To themselves, they are simply what you and I are to ourselves: a self-aware, self-contained world of subjective experiences, feelings, fears, memories – someone with the absolute certainty that his or her life is worth living.

#6, is a first time mother. She is frantic. Her baby is missing. She is pacing desperately up and down the paddock, bellowing and crying, and calling for her lost boy, fearing the worst, having her fears confirmed. She is one of the thousands of defenseless females born into a quaint, verdant, organic dairy farm. She will spend her entire short life grieving the loss of baby after baby. She will be milked relentlessly through repeated cycles of pregnancies and bereavements. Her only experience of motherhood will be that of a mother’s worst loss. In the prime of her life, her body will give, her spirit will break, her milk “production” will decline, and she will be sent to a horrifying slaughter, along with other grieving, defeated, “spent” mothers like herself.

She is the face of organic milk.

#35 is a two-days old baby, his umbilical chord is still attached, his coat is still slick with birth fluids, his eyes are unfocused, his legs, wobbly. He is crying pitifully for his mother. No one answers. He will live his entire short life an orphan, his only experience of mother love will be one of yearning for it, his only experience of emotional connection, one of absence. Soon, the memory of his mother, her face, her voice, her scent, will fade, but the painful, irrepressible longing for her warmth will still be there. At four months old, he and other orphans like himself will be corralled into trucks and hauled to slaughter. As he will be dragged onto the killing floor, he will still be looking for his mother, still desperately needing her nurturing presence, especially at that dark time when he will be frightened and needing her more than ever in the midst of the terrible sights, and sounds, and scents of death all around him and, in his despair, in his want for a shred of consolation and protection, he, like most baby calves, will try to suckle the fingers of his killers.

He is the face of the “rose” veal we are encouraging “responsible restaurant leaders” to use. #67,595 is one of the 80,000 birds in a family-owned “free-range” egg facility. She has never seen the sun, or felt the grass under her feet, she has never met her mother. Her eyes are burning with the sting of ammonia fumes, her featherless body is covered with bruises and abrasions, her bones are brittle from the constant drain of egg production, her severed beak is throbbing in pain. She is exhausted, depleted and defeated. After a lifetime of social, psychological, emotional, physical deprivation, she copes by pecking neurotically at phantom targets for hours on end. She is two years old and her life is over. Her egg production has declined, and she will be disposed of by the cheapest means possible – she will be gassed along with the other 80,000 birds in her community. It will take three full work days to finish the job. For two long days, she will hear the sounds and breathe the smells of her sisters being killed in the gas drums outside her shed. On the third day, it will be her turn. She will be grabbed by the legs and taken outdoors for the first time in her life and, like every single one of the 80,000 “spent” hens, like every single one of the 50 billion annual victims of our appetite, she will fight to go on living, and she will accept no explanation and no justification for being robbed of her pathetic only life.

She is the face of the “free-range” eggs we are encouraging college campuses, businesses and consumers to use.

These are the “beneficiaries” of the “humane farming practices” that we, the animals’ defenders, are developing, promoting, and publicly rewarding by encouraging “compassionate” consumers to buy the products of what we know to be nothing but misery. “Humane” practices that, if any of us were forced to endure, none of us would experience as humane.

We, the activists, know that there is no such thing as compassionate, responsible or ethical farming on any scale. We know that the only humane and ethical alternative is vegan living.

Why are so few of us telling the truth? Why are we describing “free-range” products as “humane” when we know the horror such practices inflict on their victims? Why are we lying to the public, and ourselves, that “compassionate” animal farming is anything but a myth, a marketing scheme, a deceptive label? Why are so many of us offering up the lives of animals by encouraging the consumption of their flesh, eggs and milk, when our only duty is to fight for their lives as if they were our own? Why are we promoting the practice of consuming animals when we know it to be brutal, inexcusable, unconscionable and completely unnecessary? Why are we rewarding consumers for demanding more of the the very thing we are struggling to eliminate? Why are we strengthening and rewarding the worlds’ entrenched speciesist assumptions, when our job, our only job, as vegan educators and activists, is to challenge and change those assumptions by offering a new model of thinking about nonhuman animals, a new model of interacting with them, a new practice of living, a new way of being in the world?

Many of us justify our endorsement of “humane” animal products and our pursuit of welfare reforms by saying that the world is not ready to change, that it may never go vegan, that the most we can hope to accomplish in the meantime is to reduce the suffering of today’s doomed animals. But this is not true. This is not a fact. It is a fear – a fear of action, a failure of will, a self- defeating attitude and, ultimately, a self-fulfilling prophesy.

The truth is, the world can change. Indeed, the world has changed many times before, and it has changed in ways that seemed impossible at the time. The truth is, the world will change, but only if we work towards creating that change. It will stay the same if we, the self-proclaimed agents of change, encourage it to stay the same. It will change if all of us tell the whole truth that there is no such thing as humane animal farming, or animal use of any kind, the truth that the only humane alternative is vegan living, the truth that animal farming on any scale is an ethical and environmental disaster, the truth that animals are persons like you and me who happen to be nonhuman and who have the same inherent right to life and liberty as you and I. The truth that vegan living is not a “lifestyle choice”, but a moral imperative.

We can do better. Indeed, we have an obligation to do better.

I invite you to see for yourselves how much can be accomplished when a small group of dedicated activists commits all of its time and resources to vegan education that is consistent with, not undermining of, our ultimate goal – Animal Liberation – and when the Go Vegan message is central to every single one of its communications, from online resources, to printed literature, to ads, demos, and billboards, to outreach events, to the in-depth exploration of farmed animal personhood detailed in the individual portraits published on the Prairie Blog.

On a shoestring budget, with an all-volunteer core of vegan educators who are determined to tell the whole truth about meat, dairy and egg production, a small, grassroots organization like Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary has built something that large, wealthy organizations have not only failed to bring forth, but have consistently undermined through years of anti-vegan advocacy: A vibrant vegan world growing in the middle of the nonvegan world, a place where the animal refugees are regarded and represented as the persons they rightly are, a place where the human residents advocate tirelessly for nothing less than total liberation, a Free State in the heart of the human-subjugated world, a place where the principles of abolition are applied in word, thought, and deed. A vegan enclave whose very presence has already changed the world’s physical, political, psychological and spiritual geography.

I invite you to experience it for yourselves. Join us in our struggle to expand its reach. Help us make it borderless.

Joanna Lucas,
Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary

Hell in a handbasket

2008-05-21T09:39:00.003-04:00

A woman was stabbed in my neighbourhood last night by a random stranger. Stabbed! In the stomach! Unprovoked! Seriously - wtf? I had walked through this intersection only an hour before the stabbing, too, since I'd taken the subway home from work.

Honestly, in the past year, I have felt the neighbourhood go downhill - shootings a couple of blocks away, robberies in my building, a shooting across the street in the park, and now a stabbing at an intersection I pass through on a regular basis. I love this neighbourhood so much, but I'm also starting to look forward to leaving it.

Groundhog day

2008-05-20T21:48:00.003-04:00

After work, on my way to the subway, I stood there watching this little guy for a while. Either he didn't hear me, or he didn't feel I was a threat. Maybe I was givin' off the Vegan Vibe :)

Spotted near McCowan Station

Whew. I won't be forced to wear polar fleece and gore-tex.

2008-05-20T16:31:00.004-04:00

H&M is opening a location in Vancouver this week. As consumptive as it is, I do enjoy me some H&M shopping therapy every so often.

A brother is a friend given by Nature. ~ Jean Baptiste Legouve

2008-05-20T12:02:00.007-04:00

One of the many people I will miss like crazy when I move to the other side of the country.

If you're reading this, Robbie, I'm so happy we found each other.

2008-05-15T15:32:00.003-04:00

The boy and I just took a co-worker's brand spankin' new Smart car out for a spin! Damn - this thing makes our tiny Honda Fit look monstrous. But, just like our Fit, you don't feel like you're in a small car when you're in the Smart car - the windows and moonroof are ginormous, making the inside seem much bigger than it is.

The boy drove while I sat in the passenger seat, which, by the way, is actually a bit more comfy and roomy than our car. *cough* He said the pick up and braking are a bit slower and stiffer than our car, but that it still felt peppy. The reality of the car's size hit us when the boy checked his blind spot before changing lanes... silly boy - there is practically no blind spot!

As much as I love the car, it wouldn't have been practical for us to have purchased one. We bought our car specifically so we can go camping and hiking and all that kinda stuff that we need cargo space for. For strictly city people, however, this car is incredible. I may be singing a different tune, though, when and if a 4-seater Smart ever comes to Canada.

Worth a thousand.

2008-05-14T14:08:00.002-04:00

Photo taken from the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals website.

Cats on a treadmill

2008-05-12T16:06:00.001-04:00

well, this sure as hell helped chase away my crabbies for a few minutes...

Damn these sleeves.

2008-05-12T13:27:00.004-04:00

I never apologize for my ethics anymore. I finally got over doing that about four years ago. I try not to refer to my veganism as a "pain in the ass" to people who offer to have us over for dinner, and I certainly do not excuse the food I make for people when they come to our home to eat. But there are times when I wish that sometimes – just sometimes – my ethics would not get in the way. Even when the discussion going on around me is one I vehemently oppose, I wish that my veganism and animal rights views could remain tucked away and kept to myself, especially in workplace settings. But, when you wear your heart on your sleeve, remaining quiet or keeping to yourself during those discussions is rare and the discussion always ends up revolved around your beliefs - at least for a short time. And then you're the reluctant centre of attention again, even when all you want is to crawl into a hole and surround yourself with nothing.

Vegan Etsy Ring

2008-05-10T09:20:00.002-04:00

The talented Melanie from The Coma Girl Designs has made the Vegan Etsy team a blog ring. See the banner on the right that she designed? Click it and take a look at some of the great things other Vegan Etsy members are doing!

The Simplifying Project

2008-05-05T23:26:00.006-04:00

The Shoe Edition.

I finally have gone through (most of) my shoes and ruthlessly judged them as keepers and tossers. Heh. Three of these are finding their way to a landfill - gah! - and the rest, which are in pretty decent condition, are going into a donation bin nearby.

Next up: The Book Edition.

The worst litter of all...

2008-04-29T21:29:00.003-04:00

...with Tim Horton's coffee cups coming in a close second.

Seriously, though. Most smokers would not even think about tossing their coffee cups or food wrappers onto the ground, but mindlessly throw their cigarette butts all over the place. CityNews just posted this story about the problem. Here's a quote from the article:

To put things in a national context, an estimated 52 million cigarettes are tossed onto Canadian streets each year. In global terms, there are those that suggest they're the world's most littered item, a claim with shocking implications given that it takes a single butt an average of 25 years to break down.

25 years! And not to mention that before the butts even break down, all the chemicals get washed into our waterways or find their way into our soil.

How about making portable ashtrays like these or these fashionable smoker accessories?

iAmtiredofwaiting

2008-04-29T07:43:00.006-04:00

This morning, on the CBC, Andy Barrie mentioned (unofficially) that the iPhone is finally coming to Canada. Apparently, Apple and Rogers have struck a deal and soon we'll be able to hold the magic in our hands. Right now, it's just hearsay, and I never really planned to buy an iPhone when they ended up available here, but the boy has been waiting very impatiently for this to happen. Of course, when I see his, no doubt I'll want one myself.

Dammit - I'm getting an iPhone.

Update:
Apparently it is more official than I thought. Here's the news release.

Movin' on out...

2008-04-26T10:18:00.005-04:00

We have some big news.

In late September/early October of this year, the boy and I will be paring down our stuff, packing up the rest of it, and moving out west. To Vancouver.

This decision has been a couple of years in the making. Actually, the trip we took a year and a halfish ago was supposed to sell me on the idea. There are so many great things about Vancouver - environment-wise, climate-wise, culture-wise - but for me, this move is less about the destination and more about the move itself.

I love Toronto. I love all my friends in Toronto. My family is here. But I was reminded recently about why I studied German, of all things, in high school. It wasn't because I planned to specifically live in Germany, but it was definitely because I had never planned to live my life in one place. After my sister was born - just before I started college - I'd put those thoughts aside because I did not want to leave her. She is now 16, soon going to be starting college or university herself, and I finally feel ready to stretch my wings.

There is so much scariness that comes along with making this type of move in your mid-30s. Thankfully, we are not in a position to have to sell a house (we rent) or to uproot a child (we're DINKs!), and we look forward to changing things up in our careers. I plan to look for a designer position with a company that aligns with my own ethical views (they are out there!) and the boy plans to do freelance web development. We also plan to take in a lot of nature in the way of hiking, camping and biking. And Seattle is only a couple of hours away!

It is with much sadness that I leave all my loved ones - but what better time is there in our history to make this sort of jump? With the online presence of blogs, flickr, Facebook, we'll be able to stay in frequent contact with everyone "back home".

Unknown balcony sprouts

2008-04-26T09:56:00.004-04:00

I planted these guys a week ago and just a couple of days later they started sprouting. I foolishly didn't mark the box with what seeds I'd planted, so I don't really know what these are. After buying brand new boxes, I planted basil, cilantro, early jalapenos, tomatoes, dill, mild & spicy lettuces, radishes and baby brassica greens, all from Urban Harvest seed packets. I think these might be the radishes or the brassica greens.

Oh, and see the spikes? That is what I have to do now to keep the pigeons from nesting in my plant boxes. After 2 nests and two yucky clean ups, I'm pretty much done with baby pigeons, so my boxes are spiked with bamboo skewers.

Happy International Meatout Day!

2008-03-20T09:07:00.003-04:00

To celebrate International Meatout Day today, I will be having a promotion in my Etsy shop! Today, for any items sold, I will donate 50% of the sale to a local charity, the Toronto Vegetarian Association, an organisation with the mission to inspire people to choose a healthier, greener, more peaceful lifestyle.

There are also other great Etsy shops from the Vegan Etsy team that are having their own promotions. Go see!

Etsy
Buy Handmade
beeskneesjewelleries

Melting snow is the new drowning!

2008-03-13T09:26:00.005-04:00

The media always has to grab on to the "new" issue or problem and alert the public to dangers. For the past few summers, it's been Drowning Deaths, which I doubt has increased over time. This spring, it's Flooding Basements! Um, doesn't Spring happen every year?

Found and heard this morning on CBC:

Melting snow prompts fears of basement flooding
Last Updated: Thursday, March 13, 2008 | 8:50 AM ET
CBC News

With milder temperatures forecast for Toronto over the next few days, city officials are hoping it will help get rid of some of the snow that's been piling up.

But they're also warning homeowners to be on the lookout for basement flooding.

Ray Russell has been in the drain and waterproofing business for 40 years. He said he is already getting calls about basement flooding.

"When it thaws, you're getting [flooding] because right now there's so much snow on the ground … there's nowhere for the water to run off to because there's so much snow. People need to dig a path for their drains," he said.

Paul Tomlinson, who runs another drain business, said he's expecting "over a hundred homes [to] phone us within a 24-hour period."

Russell blames the city for part of the problem. He said some downspouts that were disconnected from sewers weren't installed far enough from homes.

Lou Di Gironimo, general manager of Toronto Water, disagrees.

He said contractors know to extend downspouts away from homes and not put them in areas with poor grading.

"If the ground in and around homes slopes back to the house, that's the worst situation you can have. In most cases, if you have a proper, positive slope, as they call it, away from the house, you have no problem with a disconnected downspout."

Di Gironimo said older homes with cracks in foundation walls potentially have problems, especially if there isn't adequate sloping.

As well as digging a path in the snow for water to run off, he said homeowners should also clear any catch basins on their property.

New baby pigeons

2008-03-12T19:01:00.001-04:00

I finally got out to take some shots of the new squabs, which are already making a ring of poo around the lettuce pot.

1. Baby pigeon close up
2. New baby pigeons
3. New baby pigeons

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

bee's knees jewelleries

2008-03-11T15:45:00.003-04:00

I did it. I opened a brand spankin' new Etsy shop, called bee's knees jewelleries. Pop by, have look, and let me know what you think!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
beeskneesjewelleries.etsy.com

You know where you can shove yer Savings.

2008-03-11T10:10:00.003-04:00

I used to scoff at those people whose sleep patterns are affected by Daylight Savings shifts. Now, I don't know if it is age or some other affliction, but damn am I really tired after this weekend's Spring Forward. Seriously – why do we still bother with this? Why am I waking my already tired body up at 5:50 a.m.? Last week, the sun was shining when I awoke. Now... darkness. This all makes for a cranky mishka.

Stop and smell the... cumin.

2008-02-29T08:10:00.004-05:00

I bought a brand new bag of bulk ground cumin last week and, even though it is tucked away in the spice cupboard, every time I walk through my kitchen, I can smell it.

It's one of those small joys that make living a little bit easier.

We really are!

2008-02-18T12:11:00.003-05:00

I was in bed when I heard the knock on the door. The boy and I were taking advantage of the new Family Day by sleeping in. At first I ignored the knock – I rarely answer the door unless I am expecting someone, a result of living in apartments and cities my entire life – but then I heard something coming through the mail slot. It was the mail man. I ran to the door just as he was about the leave and he handed me the package that wouldn't have fit in the slot and would have been redirected to the post office for me to pick up.

I looked at the box – Vegan Works was the sender. I couldn't remember if I had ordered something. I'd been looking at vitamins the other week, but I didn't think I'd ordered them. I broke into the box and saw a thank you note from my friend who I created an ad for, to promote her vegan dog bakery! How sweet. I honestly did not expect anything in return.

I crawled back into bed and told the boy. He said "You vegans are good to each other".

We really are.

Desert Essence Vanilla Chai lotion, Endangered Species Chocolate Mint bar, a Vegan necklace and Vegan brooch both from Snooty Jewelry, and a Vegan Works carabiner - which will come in so handy with my home/car keys!

Here we g(r)o(w) again.

2008-02-16T10:54:00.004-05:00

The pigeon traffic has been busy on the balcony today. I figured it's just because it is daytime, a time I normally don't see at home since I'm usually at work - figured that pigeon traffic is normal daytime stuff. Then I saw a pigeon jump down to the floor of the balcony with a twig in its beak.

Oh no.

I put on shoes and stepped onto the balcony. The amount of bird poo (specifically the, um, liquidy kind) looked all too familar. A few more careful steps towards the pot in the far corner... two birds frantically flying away from the scene... and there it was...

Two eggs sitting atop the petrified poo from the fall. I'm actually not all that excited this time, knowing how much of a mess these little guys create. But, I'll tough it out one more time, then remove the pot from the balcony.

Who knew pigeons laid eggs in the dead of winter?!

Good bye, snow!

2008-02-01T19:11:00.000-05:00

This is what I'm leaving behind this week. A vacation South never sounded – or looked – better.

A healthy dose of "aaaaaawwww!"

2008-01-28T21:03:00.000-05:00

Truth or Dairy?

2008-01-26T08:17:00.000-05:00

This is a great article written by a friend...

Truth or Dairy?
by Greg Lawson

The dairy industry has convinced most of us that we need cow's milk and that we put our health at risk if we don't consume at least three glasses a day. Years ago, dairy promoters used the pitch lines "Everyone Needs Milk," and "Milk, It Does a Body Good." When challenged for the proof behind those ads, they couldn't dispute the fact that approximately 95 percent of Asian Americans, 74 percent of Native Americans, 70 percent of African Americans, 53 percent of Mexican Americans, and 15 percent of Caucasians are lactose intolerant. So they don't use those slogans anymore.

In major studies, dairy consumption has been linked to asthma, colic and ear infections in children and in studies of adults to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and several forms of hormonal cancers including prostate, breast and ovarian cancers. Does it sound like milk does a body good?

Most people believe the industry promoted myth "Milk Builds Strong Bones." Since it isn't true, the dairy dealers can't put it quite so simply anymore. Their current ads read "Calcium Builds Strong Bones, Milk Has Calcium," implying the conclusion that "milk builds strong bones." The logic of that argument is similar to saying "Humans Need Selenium, Dirt Has Selenium," and thus the conclusion "humans need to be eating dirt."

The Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, which followed more than 72,000 women for 18 years, found that the women who consumed the most milk had the most bone fractures. Similarly, Dr. T. Colin Campbell's China Study, one of the most comprehensive studies ever undertaken on diet and disease, found that the countries with the most dairy consumption had the highest rates of osteoporosis.

Animal protein, such as is in milk, makes the human body more acidic and calcium is leeched from the bones to neutralize the pH. Plant sources of calcium, such as leafy greens, broccoli and sesame seeds are actually better sources of calcium than cow's milk and more easily absorbed. Studies have found that exercise and vitamin D are more important considerations for bone health than calcium intake.

The latest multi-million dollar campaign from the dairy industry featured the claim that milk helps a person lose weight. The “Milk Your Diet. Lose Weight” and “3-A-Day. Burn More Fat, Lose Weight” promotions have been running for the last several years. People have been eager to believe that a substance designed to help a baby calf gain a thousand pounds in a few months will somehow be the magic diet aid they are looking for.

"Recent studies have shown..." is the way these ads begin. Those recent studies were three small studies on groups of thirty people which lasted only a few weeks. The dairy industry paid over 2 million dollars to Michael Zemel, Ph.D., a professor of nutrition at the University of Tennessee, to find those results. Independent research has found that the consumption of dairy products either has little or no effect on weight loss or actually increases body weight.

In May of 2007 the Federal Trade Commission ruled that the dairy industry was using false and misleading advertising in its campaign which suggests milk causes weight loss. The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board agreed to discontinue all advertising and other marketing activities involving weight-loss claims pending further research into the issue.

The dairy industry has "complied" with the FTC ruling by making slight changes to their "Milk Your Diet" campaign. Instead of saying "3 glasses of lowfat or fat free milk a day can help you lose weight," they now say in their televised ads and on their promotional webpages "Studies suggest the nutrients in 3 glasses of lowfat or fat free milk a day can help maintain a healthy weight."

Got Truth?

Greg Lawson is the President of the Vegetarian Society of El Paso

Things I need to learn

2008-01-24T20:24:00.001-05:00

How to get freelance clients. I'd like to work on some of my own work with my own clients on my own time.
The history of typography. I learned a lot in school, but I've forgotten most of it over the last 10 years. Knowing about typography won't make me a better designer, but I think it'll make me a different kind of designer.
Stock investments. I finally started an RRSP and chose the self-directed route. I know nothing about stocks or investing, but now's the time to learn. Um... help?
How to use my camera properly. I have a decent camera that can take great shots. All I need now is to figure out how to use it.
How to organise my time so I can accomplish all the things I want to. I have many things I enjoy doing, but there are only so many hours in a day. And my creative outlet activities seem to be slipping further down my list - unintentionally.
How to just freaking relax and stop being so awkward/angry/sad/preoccupied.

I'm sure there are lots more things for me to learn, but these are top of mind right now.

It's the little things

2008-01-23T16:41:00.000-05:00

Yesterday my boss met with some clients. She was told by 3 separate clients "Michelle is great!".

I needed to feel that appreciation.

Left Feet's 1st Annual Vegan Chili Cook-off

2008-01-20T16:16:00.001-05:00

Am I wrong in assuming that most vegans believe they have a really kick ass chili recipe? My chili, in my opinion, is truly kick ass.

Of course, I may be completely humbled next weekend when I enter Left Feet's 1st Annual Vegan Chili Cook-off being held in Kensington Market on Saturday January 26th, 2008 from 2 – 6 pm. Yesterday, I stopped by Left Feet, submitted my entry form and payment to the lovely Natalie of Heart on Your Sleeve, wondering for the rest of the day if my chili really can stand up to the recipes of local veg establishments like Sadie's Diner and Urban Herbivore, or veg-friendly Magic Oven. Not to mention the other single entrants I'll be up against.

But, win or lose, I am really looking forward to being a part of such a great event. The winner will be chosen by a panel of tasters. All you need to do to be a taster is to pay a $5 fee, try each and every chili and cast a vote. That's it. All proceeds are going towards Toronto homeless outreach. If you're in the area, like chili and want to support a great cause, please stop by. The organisers are supplying eco-friendly bowls, utensils and cornbread so you have no excuse. The event is being held outdoors, so also make sure to wear something warm!

C is for Cuckoo

2007-11-21T21:07:00.000-05:00

I just heard that Sesame Street classic shows are being released on DVD!!

*cue frantic dancing*

I also heard that the discs come with a warning label. That's right - classic Sesame Street has been deemed as unsuitable for some of today's children. I found this in the New York Times website:

Sunny days! The earliest episodes of “Sesame Street” are available on digital video! Break out some Keebler products, fire up the DVD player and prepare for the exquisite pleasure-pain of top-shelf nostalgia.
Just don’t bring the children. According to an earnest warning on Volumes 1 and 2, “Sesame Street: Old School” is adults-only: “These early ‘Sesame Street’ episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today’s preschool child.”
Say what? At a recent all-ages home screening, a hush fell over the room. “What did they do to us?” asked one Gen-X mother of two, finally. The show rolled, and the sweet trauma came flooding back. What they did to us was hard-core. Man, was that scene rough. The masonry on the dingy brownstone at 123 Sesame Street, where the closeted Ernie and Bert shared a dismal basement apartment, was deteriorating. Cookie Monster was on a fast track to diabetes. Oscar’s depression was untreated. Prozacky Elmo didn’t exist.
Nothing in the children’s entertainment of today, candy-colored animation hopped up on computer tricks, can prepare young or old for this frightening glimpse of simpler times. Back then — as on the very first episode, which aired on PBS Nov. 10, 1969 — a pretty, lonely girl like Sally might find herself befriended by an older male stranger who held her hand and took her home. Granted, Gordon just wanted Sally to meet his wife and have some milk and cookies, but . . . well, he could have wanted anything. As it was, he fed her milk and cookies. The milk looks dangerously whole.

read the whole story here.

Help.

2007-11-20T21:09:00.000-05:00

The organisation I volunteer for is having their AGM this Thursday. And I've been asked to do an interview about my volunteer experience for the AGM, which will also be recorded for the weekly podcast. Yikes. Luckily, I have a copy of the potential questions:

a. What are your volunteer roles?
b. Why did you first get involved?
c. What keeps you engaged?
d. What would you say to someone who's thinking of volunteering?
e. What's your most inspirational volunteer experience?

If anyone has some advice, by all means, pass it along. I is nervous.

Veganomicon, page 133

2007-11-19T20:56:00.000-05:00

Chickpea Cutlets.

Make 'em. Now.

Concerts in memory lane

2007-11-18T15:05:00.000-05:00

Last night, a friend and I were talking about My Bloody Valentine recording a new album. I hadn't heard, and the news was really exciting. I mentioned seeing My Bloody Valentine in concert quite a few years ago and I couldn't remember the exact date - 1991? 1992? Of course this friend reminded me that he was born in 1982, which made me feel very old.

I used to keep all my concert ticket stubs, but I rarely do anymore. I have a stack of stubs from concerts I went to in the 80s and early 90s, stashed away in a baggie for safe keeping. Today I pulled them out and reminisced about some of my favourites – one of which was the My Bloody Valentine show (it was 1992).

Another one, also from 1992 was The Sugarcubes (coincidentally, Water from Here Today, Tomorrow, Next Week just started playing in my iTunes playlist. Spooky). I'd been wanting to see them for years, and finally they were coming back. My mother was pregnant with my little sister (at the time, I referred to the future baby as "The Sib") and the day they were set to play was also around my mother's due date. Björk and another band member were interviewing at the local radio station, so we skipped school to meet them (!!) but travelling into downtown Toronto from the suburbs by way of public transit for the concert meant I'd be away from her for hours – but I couldn't miss the show! So, I called every couple of hours to check in. Thankfully, my sister decided to not be birthed that evening and I was able to enjoy the concert – we even met another band member at the show (see the autograph: "To Michelle in Toronto. I'm Einar").

One of the earlier shows I went to was also one of the most memorable ones. I was 15 when I saw The Jesus and Mary Chain in 1987 and it was possibly the first show I'd been to that had a mosh pit. I even just found a Wikipedia entry about the show, and what helped make it so memorable:

The band's dangerous reputation culminated at a gig at the RPM club in Toronto in November 1987, when Jim Reid allegedly hit two fans with a microphone stand for spitting on him. Jim was arrested and spent a night in jail. He was subsequently given absolute discharge after agreeing to give £500 to charity.

And this last stub is from one of the many Skinny Puppy shows I saw in the 80s. What made this one so memorable was the show's theme of animal rights. I'd just started getting more involved in animal rights and, at the show, the band played vivisection videos on the screen behind them. Again, another Wiki entry:

Over time, the band became outspoken advocates for animal rights, and used the Head Trauma tour (Europe, 1988) and VIVIsectVI tour (North America, 1988) to draw attention to the issue. The title of the album VIVIsectVI (1988) was a pun intended to associate vivisection with Satanism (ie. the "666 sect").[8] The album's lyrics dealt with criticism of pollution, chemical warfare, deforestation, rape, cocaine addiction, and the promotion of sexual abstinence to stop the spread of AIDS/HIV. Lead track "Dogshit" was released as a single in 1988 under the name "Censor", while the single "Testure", which denounced the vivisection of animals for research purposes, reached #19 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1989.[10] A music video was produced for "Testure", featuring footage of a man being tortured by monstrous-looking surgeons, augmented with clips from The Plague Dogs and Unnecessary Fuss, and included a statement denouncing vivisection. Key and Ogre were arrested for "disorderly conduct" at a 1988 concert in Cincinnati, Ohio after an audience member, believing the stuffed animal Ogre was "vivisecting" to be a real dog, called the police.

So, although my friend telling me that he was only 10 years old when I was already a concert going veteran made me feel extremely old, it also prompted this reminiscing, which made me feel really good. Almost as good as when I found this little note on my desk this afternoon:

Packages!

2007-11-16T21:27:00.000-05:00

I got packages today! But I'm going out and will post about them tomorrow! Yay!

Nablopomo cop out

2007-11-15T21:30:00.001-05:00

I've been extremely busy at work, and for the past few days I've been setting up a document for a volunteer job, and I've had a meeting and classes. Very little energy to blog tonight, so instead I present to you one of the funniest things I've seen in a while. If you have a cat companion, you will be able to relate. Enjoy!

Silver Pendant

2007-11-14T23:50:00.000-05:00

Last week in my jewellery class at Nanopod, I formed a wax version of a pendant to cast in sterling silver using the lost wax technique. I made several sketches of various designs, and chose one to go with, making minor adjustments. It turned out well and I spent tonight's class filing and sanding and polishing my brand new pendant. It's a good thing that the casting company is a little inconvenient to get to, or else I would have a new obsession on my hands.

Papa Pigeon

2007-11-13T23:52:00.000-05:00

I shot these of the elusive papa pigeon on Day 43. He'd recently been arriving each morning to feed the babies. Now, I only ever see the papa – momma hasn't been around for while :(

Tagged, just in time!

2007-11-12T21:41:00.000-05:00

As I was working away on formatting the text of a 25 page document (not my favourite thing to do after an already long day) I remembered my Nablopomo pledge. I've got very little to say today, so I decided to check my Bloglines subscriptions while I though of a decent post, and I discovered I'd been tagged! Hooray! Something quick and easy to write about!

Stegan tagged me for a random quote. You're supposed to go to page 161 of the book you're currently reading and type out the 5th sentence. If you've only trudged through the introduction, does that count as a book you're currently reading? Well, since I assume cookbooks don't count, I'm posting from Orson Scott Card's Speaker For the Dead. I am not a reader of science fiction, but I was encouraged to pick up Ender's Game a few months ago, and I enjoyed it. As a surprise, the boy recently came home with book #2, though I haven't had much time to devote to reading lately.

So, page 161, 5th sentence: "Beware, then, or the Lord of the Harvest will burn you with the tares." At first, I thought the instructions were for the 5th line which, in my book, would have been simply "weeds". :)

I'm going to ruin the fun and not tag anyone. If someone wants to participate, please do and let me know when you've posted.

Chickpea Noodle Soup à la Veganomicon

2007-11-11T20:44:00.000-05:00

Tonight, looking for something different to have for dinner fortheloveofgod, I decided to try a sample recipe from the latest vegan cookbook that seems to have all the vegans in a tizzy, Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook by Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero. I have a copy of Isa's Vegan with a Vengeance : Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock and, of course, Isa's and Terry's Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes that Rule (come off it with the long titles already!) but I have to admit that I tend to just flip through them rather than actually trying out recipes, as I do with almost all my cookbooks.

At this point, I need to ask – is it just a vegan/vegetarian thing to collect cookbooks? Do omnivores collect cookbooks the way we do? I mean, most vegans I know have a ridiculous amount of cookbooks. We buy them the way others buy bestsellers.

Anyhoo, I was browsing the internet for some ideas for meals, and noticed a recipe for Chickpea Noodle Soup on The PPK website – a sample recipe from Veganomicon. Since my copy of the cookbook was hastily ordered just last night from Chapters.ca, I have to wait to browse the full list of recipes until later this week *fingers crossed*

Not being one to follow directions, any recipe I do try is usually tweaked quite a bit. This one I tweaked just a little – added broccoli, included an extra clove of garlic, subbed soba noodles with whole wheat fettuccine, and used a poultry seasoning blend instead of the individual herbs listed. This is also officially my third time cooking with miso and the first time I actually enjoyed it. The soup was warm and comforting, filling and satisfying. There was just the right amount of saltiness and the miso was a very light flavour. I was worried that I used too many mushrooms, but they were not overpowering in the least. If this recipe is any indication of the rest of the recipes in the book, I may just join the frenzied vegans in pimping Veganomicon. I just can't wait to try the highly touted Chickpea Cutlets. Mmmm...

That time.

2007-11-10T17:22:00.000-05:00

In my teens, I used to get awful cramps. I was on the Pill for a while – not as a treatment for cramps, but it helped. Then I read about the estrogen in the pill being collected from the urine of pregnant horses, like it is for Premarin, and I stopped taking it. Little did I know that the Pill, by that time, was being made with synthetic estrogen. So I suffered with cramps. Sometimes they were so bad that I would often spend at least half a day once a month in the nurse's office, curled up into a little ball on a cot.

I realised a few years later that the Pill wasn't made with horses urine and I started taking it again. My periods were a breeze back then – three days, if that. Barely there. And the cramps were very low. This lasted into my late 20s, when I stopped taking it again. I was in a relationship with a woman, and it was silly to put those hormones into my body. I have been off the Pill ever since. And my periods are back to normal. Which is to say they are heavy and painful.

This month has been especially bad. Not just the period, but the PMS. Yesterday, the day before it started, was filled with a severe mix of emotions: sadness, anger, despair and frustration. I felt like I was on some sort of drug – my body was tingly, in a bad way, and I couldn't concentrate. Everything was overwhelming. And all of today has been spent very painfully aware of the heavy dull groan between my hip bones, waiting for the acetaminophen to kick in.

I don't keep a journal of my cycles, other than to track my period on MyMonthlyCycles.com. But after this month, it is sounding like a good idea. There must be a reason why this month has been worse . I know my eating habits have been less healthy – less fresh greens, less water, more salt, more processed carbs – and I have a feeling that is the biggest culprit. That, and the stress from work, which has increased considerably over the past few weeks. Keeping a journal of my food intake, water intake and stress levels might not only help show which affects my cycle more, but also encourage me to make changes for my overall health.

I collected a few things from around the interwebs that may help in reducing or preventing painful periods:

Zinc, calcium, and B vitamins obtained in food and supplements have been found to reduce cramps, bloating and other symptoms.
Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, avoiding junk foods and high-fat foods.
Getting extra omega-3 fatty acids
Reducing your salt intake.
Limiting caffeine, sugar and alcohol. (Though I have also read that caffeine may help when you have cramps, like it can when you have a headache)
Change your diet slightly if you can, a week prior to menstruation to avoid menstrual cramping; avoid foods that could cause bloating such as salty foods and alcohol, avoid foods such as dairy that could contribute to menstrual cramps.
Try spot treatments. Heat or cold packs can be a spot on treatment for menstrual cramps, laying down with a pack around your stomach area. A warm bath can also provide heat that eases the pain of menstrual cramps as well as highly relaxing.
Eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables and is low in fat.
Begin or maintain a moderate exercise schedule. Try to work up to at least 30 minutes, 4 to 5 times each week. For more information, see the topic Fitness.
Reduce stress in your life. Although stress does not cause menstrual cramps, reducing stress can make your symptoms less severe.
Do not smoke or use other tobacco products.
Try biofeedback or yoga. Both therapies teach relaxation skills.
Try acupuncture or acupressure.
Taking an extra 500 to 1,000 milligrams of supplemental calcium a day
Taking vitamin B₆ as part of a B-complex supplement that contains no more than 200 to 300 milligrams of B₆
Regular exercise (especially walking).
A heating pad applied to the abdominal area may relieve the pain and congestion.

2007-11-09T23:47:00.000-05:00

Too busy to blog. Watching Weeds Season 3.

I pledge...

2007-11-08T23:36:00.000-05:00

See that little button in the sidebar? The one that says "I took the handmade pledge"? This Christmas, I plan to do just that – maybe not for all the gifts I give, but as much as I possibly can. Why? Well, to borrow some text from Handmade.org:

Buying handmade is better for people, better for the environment, and better for giving truly special and well-crafted gifts. The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us all dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. The connection between producer and consumer has been lost. Buying handmade helps them reconnect.

We encourage all consumers to be aware of the social and environmental implications of their purchases.

Take a look over here, and maybe take the pledge yourself!

Born on a pirate ship.

2007-11-07T23:43:00.000-05:00

My birdies. They be messy.

The earliest holiday card ever

2007-11-06T19:44:00.000-05:00

I got this in the mail late last week from Medic Alert. I was shocked and amused when I opened the envelope. But considering the way the weather has been today, I guess it is appropriate enough. We didn't receive any snow, but man is it cold. I headed out to go to the gym, walked down the street for 5 minutes in the blustery cold rain, and turned right around.

I think I'll eat some chocolate mousse instead. And knit.

To the jerk who stole my sister's iPod.

2007-11-05T19:12:00.000-05:00

Maybe you don't know my sister. Maybe you don't know that she comes from a family that doesn't have lots of money, and was raised to really appreciate the things she has. You probably don't know how much I adore her and that seeing her smile as she opened her birthday gift this year warmed my heart for days. You certainly don't know how upset you have made her. Or at least you don't care. I don't know why you think you deserve my sister's iPod more than she does. Maybe you think she is just one of those kids who can easily get a new one. You've proven that you don't deserve it. And I hope when you get older and more cognizant of your actions, that you feel badly about what you've done, you little jerk.

Weekend of Stuff

2007-11-04T20:00:00.000-05:00

Anyone who knows me pretty much knows that I have pack-rat issues. And anyone who has visited my home knows that I do not need more stuff. But this weekend, stuff I got. And stuff I off-loaded. And I made pretty important decision about Christmas stuff.

Friday night was spent at a fund raiser for a local animal rights group called ARK II. As one of the first 50 people to arrive, we were given goody bags! My favourite item was the cookie from local vegan bakery, Sweets From the Earth. Damn fine cookies.

And I won a hat in the raffle. I'm not a baseball hat wearer, so I'm passing it along to a friend :)

Saturday was mostly spent doing some overtime work. But during a break, we went out for lunch and I picked up a brand new iPod. A Shuffle. My iPod Mini, although minier than the standard huge iPod, is still awkward to work out with. The Shuffle is teensy and clips to your clothing – perfect for the gym, where I have been spending as much time as I can lately.

I also picked a carpal tunnel brace for my left arm (already have one for the right one). No photo, because it's not very interesting.

Today, Sunday, a friend hosted a Clothing Swap/potluck brunch (my contribution: scrambled tofu). For those unfamiliar, a Clothing Swap is where several people get together, bring all their clothes and/or shoes and accessories that they no longer wear, put them into organised piles, and everyone gets the chance to pick through the piles and choose things they like. Of course there are rules to determine who gets what if two or more people want the same piece of clothing, but the rules can vary. I brought several pieces that I've been holding on to and almost every item got taken. Yay! At the end, all the clothes that are left over get donated to charity. I believe the huge pile that accumulated today is going to The Scott Mission, as they're holding a drive in my friend's building this week.

My loot, minus a great pair of short pants is below – two very colourful skirts and a great cowl neck tunic style top made by a friend. No black. The boy will be happy.

The other things I came home with were brunch leftovers :) In my fridge are a few containers of various things – vegan banana bread, cheesy pinwheels for the boy, vegan chocolate cupcakes (sadly, a bit squished), vegan chocolate mousse and breakfast potatoes which are no longer in the fridge but now in my tummy. It wasn't a vegan event, but there were 4 of us freaks in a group of 9, so the food was very vegan friendly.

So, even though there was a lot of stuff coming into my life this weekend, it was fairly small and useful stuff. Plus, I gave away a suitcase of clothes that I no longer wear. And today, I decided to make this Christmas a more eco-friendly one. My mom, sister and I are saving up for a trip to Mexico in the new year so we are foregoing the usual gift-giving in favour of a smaller stocking stuffer exchange. My plan is to include as much locally made, hand made and environmentally conscious stuff as possible. I've already started knitting a sample of one of the items I will be including in my mom's stocking. She reads my blog, so I won't give away what it is (sorry, mom!) but I hope it will be very useful. And it's not a scarf or anything you wear. The one in the photo is for me, since I want to make sure it turns out before I make any gift-bound ones. If it does work out, I'm going to make a couple for every one of my friends :)

2007-11-03T20:06:00.000-04:00

I'm really waiting until tomorrow to do a much larger post, which will probably be photo heavy anyway. Until then, I'll leave you with something hilarious and bizarre I saw on a sign outside a church in my neighbourhood today:

Remember that part about
"love your neighbour"?
I meant it.
- God

From Egg to Squab

2007-11-02T21:23:00.000-04:00

Of course, the big excitement around here has been the baby Rock Pigeons on our balcony. It is just so incredible to witness how, in just 36 days, these little guys have grown from egg to almost full fledged adults.

1. It's a bird! ~Day 1~
2. Aw, ain't [s]he cute? ~Day 1~
3. AND NOW THERE ARE TWO!! ~Day 1~
4. Good morning, mama ~Day 2~
5. Faithful parent ~Day 3~
6. Neither rain nor gloom of night... ~Day 5~
7. The last egg photo ~Day 8~
8. Tetley watches the nest
9. You can't tell but... ~Day 19~
10. "No more photos!" ~Day 20~
11. Rock-a-bye birdies ~Day 20~
12. we r not lettuce! ~Day 22~
13. They're growing like weeds! ~Day 22~
14. Sleeping in their own filth ~Day 24~
15. Squabby McUgly ~Day26~
16. Untitled
17. A little over a week old ~Day 28~
18. Awkward teens ~Day 29~
19. As requested, the state of our balcony.
20. They're changing on a daily basis ~Day 30~
21. Day 31
22. Day 31
23. Day 31
24. How does the lettuce grow? ~Day 34~
25. Boy and Girl ~Day 36~
26. Boy and Girl ~Day 36~

d00d

2007-11-01T19:26:00.000-04:00

boy, looking at the just purchased can of garbanzos: I'm offended by the word "chickpeas"
me: yeah?
boy: yeah. Why can't they be "dudepeas?"

Yes folks, this is my first entry for NaBloPoMo. Sad, but true.

The Ring

2007-10-31T22:33:00.000-04:00

No, I don't mean the American remake of the Japanese horror film Ringu, though the horror film title is very appropriate for this blog post on Halloween. I'm talking about the ring I made this evening at my jewellery class.

We made sterling silver bands – sawed, hammered, texturized, annealed, and soldered bands of our very own. I pressed mine with some lace and antiqued it, giving it great texture. After all that, I have to say that I'm not crazy in love with the final result. If I were to choose a ring for myself, I would choose something much simpler with less detail, but I love playing with the different techniques. Besides, I'll probably still wear the ring every day because I made it with my own two hands, plus I stamped a little hidden symbol of love into it. Can you see it?

You say solder, I say solder.

2007-10-25T09:13:00.000-04:00

Last night was my first of eight Beginner Jewellery Making classes at Nanopod. Our first project was working with copper. We drilled, we sawed and we soldered, and it was a lot of fun! My piece didn't turn out a well as I'd hoped, but I really enjoyed the process. So much that I'm thinking about all the tools I can buy to continue creating metal works of art at home!

my piece from last night that I cut out of a small piece of copper with a saw, filed, and soldered with my very own hands!

Random conversation about the class, had about a month and a half ago at my home, went something like this:

me (showing my cousins and the boy the nanopod website and the description of the class): I get to work with all these metals, and I get to solder!
cousin: it's "saw-der"
me: what? oh. I thought that "sole-dering" and "saw-dering" were two different things.

Sometimes, I'm really dumb.

In other news, look what I found at the cafe next door to the studio! Hell ya! Apparently they also sell a chili pepper one, but were sold out last night. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they have more next Wednesday night!

Baby Balcony Birdies, Day 22

2007-10-20T21:06:00.000-04:00

Flax + Crackers = Flackers

2007-10-20T19:05:00.001-04:00

Breakfasts for the past year or so for me have been:

• oatmeal with flax
• rolled barley and rolled rye flakes with flax
• smoothies with fruits and veggies with flax

It's become boring and I need to shake things up. Enter The Thrive Diet by Brendan Brazier, which I purchased in the hopes of learning how to eat better overall. He has a section in the book of recipes for crackers, and I modified one to fit the ingredients I have in my home at the moment. I hope to make this my current breakfast trend, especially since ingredients can be varied to create very different tastes. It is made with of flax, hemp and Salba, providing lots of omegas, plus nuts and seeds, adding a good dose of protein and other nutrients.

Flackers

1 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup ground Salba
1/4 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup raw, unhulled sesame seeds
1/2 cup raw almonds
1 carrot, chopped
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, rehyrated in 1/4 cup boiling water
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoons hemp protein powder
3/4 cup of water
oil (canola, sunflower, coconut or your preference)
salt for topping (optional)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees fahrenheit. Blend first 10 ingredients, including the tomato soaking liquid, in a food processor. Blend at medium speed, drizzling in extra water a little at a time until the mixture is of packing consistency (like packing snow!). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and grease with a small amount of oil. Spread mixture on paper, pressing down to cover entire baking sheet. Score lines into the mixture to desired cracker size and shape (unless you want to get fancier than a square/rectangle, in which case, I can't help you). Sprinkle salt over top and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. When cooled, use scored lines to break into individual crackers.

These came out of the oven a short time ago, and got rave reviews by 3 people. Success!

You can't handle the cute!

2007-10-18T16:53:00.000-04:00

Look at what the momma bird on our balcony created!

You can follow the egg-citing egg-sperience (sorry - I hate myself for writing that, but it had to be done...) in flickr format right here. Be sure to read some of the info that the lovely and extremely knowledgeable quagga posted in some of the comments.

Balcony [wild]life

2007-09-28T09:05:00.000-04:00

Our balcony has recently become popular among the area pigeons. They've been hanging out, pooping, sniffing around. Even diarrhea-ing. Blech. I generally don't mind too much, since the cats get a kick out of watching them from the window, but the new messy discoveries are bothering me – though not enough to make them stop hanging around.

This morning I popped out, dodging the poop and fresh puddle of grossness, relieved that today's thunderstorm will hopefully wash it all away, and hung my wet gym clothes on the clothes dryer, scaring away a pigeon in the process. And look what I found in what used to be the lettuce pot!

Eeeeeeeeee!!!!!

We'll be following the progress in photos! If not here, then definitely on my flickr page!

ETA:

We came home from work this afternoon to find either mama or papa nestled into the pot, and when I checked back later on, they had left again. Of course, I went outside to have another peek at the cute little soon-to-be birdie and LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

That's right - TWO eggs! Eeeeeee!

I'm so giddy.

Vegan Resource - Sick on Sin

2007-08-31T11:04:00.001-04:00

One of my favourite places for fun t-shirts is Sick on Sin. Owned and operated in Toronto by vegan Jennifer Krebsz, the online shop sells items from t-shirts to buttons to pocket mirrors, all featuring great graphic cartoony designs.

Here's a few of the pro-veg designs:

Online vegan shopping resource.

2007-08-30T21:27:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine has recently created an online vegan shopping resource at The Vegan Flower. She developed her blog to help those in the vegan community connect with resources they may need. She updates it frequently, along with a link to the company and a review.

As her blog states "The purpose of this blog is not to encourage consumption, but to provide a resource to the vegan community. Please make sure to post a comment about your experiences with any stores or products featured!"

I've discovered many new vegan/vegan-owned online shops thanks to her site!

x-posted at VeganPal2!

Balcony gardening

2007-08-20T06:57:00.000-04:00

Look what grew on my balcony!

It is a teensy cherry tomato that measured only half an inch in diametre, and it was juicy as heck.

I can't wait for more to ripen!

Homemade Almond Milk

2007-08-15T19:49:00.000-04:00

Every so often, I get tired of using water or soymilk in my morning muesli, and get a craving for some fresh almond milk. The flavour is really nice and it's a great substitute for other milks in cereal. I don't drink it straight since I never have been a fan of a glass of milk, dairy or otherwise, but I think I could drink a glass of this - it is very thin and refreshing. It would also be a great liquid to use in a smoothie or shake.

I searched for recipes on the internet, simplified and combined, and settled on this basic method:

1 cup raw almonds*, soaked in water for about 8 hours (or soaked slivered almonds)
3-4 cups of water (additional to the soaking water)
pinch of sea salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
maple syrup to taste (some recipes call for about 3 dates)

After soaking, blend all the ingredients until the nuts are pulpy. At this point, you are supposed to strain the pulp before storing the milk, but I skip this since I use it on lumpy cereal anyway. The pulp is just added fibre and nutrition! If you plan to drink it straight, however, you may want to strain it. Store in glass jars or bottles in the fridge. I use mine up in about a week.

soak the almonds...

blend it up with other ingredients until nice and frothy! The unstrained pulp sinks to the bottom...

* apparently, raw almonds will soon be a thing of the past. Stock up now!

Vegan Pal 2 Q+A

2007-08-12T19:34:00.000-04:00

The second Vegan Pal Swap is on! This time, it is a Vegal Pal Magic Yarn Ball swap. I've never done a Magic Yarn Ball, so this will definitely be something new.

My answers!

What is/are your craft(s), & how long have you been doing it/them?
I've been knitting for 2 years, beading for about 5 years and sewing off and on for a long time.
Are you a vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, veg-friendly or other?
Vegan
Is this your first swap, or have you done previous swaps before? What makes a swap enjoyable for you?
I've done a few swaps in the past 2 years. For me, the best part of doing a swap is trying to match items with my partner's personality. And getting the notice in the mail that my package is waiting for me at the post office!
What is/are your favorite color(s)? Do you particularly dislike any color(s)?
Earthy greens and reds, black, and jewel tones. Nothing too bright.
Do you have any allergies (such as pets, foods, fibers or cigarette smoke)?
Nothing - lucky me!
Do you have any companion animals? If so, name(s) and type(s)?*
I live with 2 cats - Tetley and Pekoe
Do you collect anything?
Other than yarn, beads and fabric, I like creepy-cute things :) Which is perfect for a Halloween swap!
Do you have a favorite vegan food, snack or dish? If no fav that's vegan (for those who aren't vegan), what's your favorite food? (Hopefully your pal can find a vegan version!)
I like most kinds of salty snacks, and I'm not a big sweets person. I love black licorice and dislike red licorice. I love chickpeas and chickpea nuts. Mints are always awesome, and I like to chew gum.
What are some of your favorite/least favorite tastes/flavors? (e.g. sweet, salty, chocolate, crunchy, smooth, tart, sour, spicy, thai, whatever - Help your pal get a feel for what kind of recipes you might like and/or never ever make.)
Salty, spicy, not too sweet. I love curries and savoury foods, and don't often eat dessert food. Unless it's pie. I love pie.
What tools/supplies/accessories for your craft(s) are you wishing you had but don't? Also, what do you have TOO many of? (basically a wish and anti-wish list)
I really need a jeweller's file to smooth wire edges, and I don't own a needle gauge. A small tape measure would be handy and I recently lost my fold away scissors that used to live in my knitting bag. Beads and findings are always welcome! I don't really have "too much" of anything!
Are you on Ravelry? What's your handle?
Not yet. I am #23847 on the list.
Is there anything else you would like your pal to know about you?
Nothing that probably can't be found in my blog. If I think of something, I'll update!
What scents do you like/dislike?
I love vanilla, jasmine, lavender, citrus and berry. I also love incensey scents. Not big on rose or very sweet smells.
Do you prefer fall or Halloween or some other Autumn theme?
I like both fall and Halloween! I feel like the two go almost hand-in-hand :)
Just for fun - tell your favorite Halloween or Autumn related memory.
For a couple of years, my mom, sister and others used to go apple picking before going to my Grammie's for Thanksgiving. Canadian Thanksgiving is in October, right at the height of apple season, and picking our own was such a wonderful way to celebrate fall. This year, we have a car and should be able to continue with the tradition since it requires driving :)

Another story: Also for a couple of years, we used to go camping on Thanksgiving weekend. It's always fresh and crisp and the parks are pretty quiet. It seemed like the perfect thing to do since I find myself becoming less tolerant of the traditional turkey dinner served on Thanksgiving. That was also a great way to celebrate fall and I'd love to do it again in the next couple of years.

Sewing on Sunday

2007-08-12T18:07:00.000-04:00

After reading several tutorials online over the past few weeks, I decided to sit down and create my very own shirred top with some bargain fabric I bought for $1. I would have loved to make a dress, but I didn't have enough fabric and bargain hunters can't be too choosey.

Instructions and me don't really get along - cooking, sewing, knitting are always partly freeform for me. I always change something or don't look as closely to directions as I should. Or take proper measuremements, as was the case with this top. I measured 40 inches across and cut. Then I sewed the edges and the gathers - using the winding elastic thread onto the bobbin method - and realised I'd way underestimated the width I'd need. Luckily there was enough leftover fabric to cut a 15 inch panel to use for the back of the top, which worked out perfectly!

I kept thinking about straps - should I make them? Should I just use a ribbon? How about a simple halter-style tie? In the end, I kept it strapless. I don't mind the look of black bra straps acting as top straps, plus I can wear a strappy tank underneath or a cardigan overtop when the weather gets cooler.

I loved making this top so much, and it was incredibly easy, despite having to fix my negligent mistakes. It is very comfortable, and I plan to make more!

fabric detail:

top: (I took about 40 shots, and I only got 1 usable photo!)

Camping Mosaic

2007-08-09T19:50:00.000-04:00

This year, we did our group camping trip at Cape Croker Indian Park, just north of Wiarton on the Bruce Penisula. I think the Peninsula is my favourite place to be in nature, in Ontario. It is part of the Niagara Escarpment and contains some of the Bruce Trail, both of which run through southern Ontario from Niagara to Tobermory. Georgian Bay is so beautiful, and at times is almost as blue as tropical water.

We drove up on Friday even after getting a bit of a late start. On our way to pick up my sister, we discovered that we had forgotten the tent. The tent! Of all things. I guess it was just too obvious for us to even think about! Anyway, I called my awesome cousin, who was on his way, to ask if my sister could sleep in the tent with him and his partner and we decided to try sleeping in the car. The rear seats of the Fit fold down flush, so we just made arrangements for others to house our cooler at night (my mom also lent us a small tent that we used for storage) and we fit quite comfortably in the back, with our Thermarest mattresses and sleeping bags!

The fresh air was very welcome after some stinking humid hot days in the city. We lounged, hiked, swam, read, ate incredibly tasty food - we had no tent, but we had tofu fercrissakes - and got all smokey by the fire. The long weekend was too short, as it usually is, and, as I usually do, I left wishing for another week in the woods.

1. Harry Potter shot 5
2. Chippy!
3. Rugged Cousin
4. Fun + games
5. Sister loves the rock
6. Vegan Camping Breakfast
7. Our car tent,
8. Campers
9. I was reading Ender's Game
10. Don't leave avocadoes unattended

Mac Book Widow

2007-08-09T19:47:00.000-04:00

Now that the boy's new Mac Book Pro has arrived, I think this is how I'll be seeing him for the next little while. As a new Mac Convert (take that PC!), he will probably be spending hours ooohing! and ahhhing! over all the wonderful details we seasoned Mac users have taken for granted.

That'll do, Mac. That'll do.

Summer 2007 Mosaics, part 2

2007-08-02T22:04:00.001-04:00

PS Kensington, July 29, 2007

1. Apparently, there are vegans behind me.,
2. Didgeridoo Mom+girl,
3. Untitled,
4. My beloved sister and her beloved cookie,
5. Drummers,
6. Heli Poi,
7. Boy bench,
8. Meagan+silly face

Shrine Circus Demo

1. Circus Protesters,
2. Elephants,
3. Feathers = dominance,
4. Circus Animals Suffer,
5. Elephants,
6. And this is the "Big Top"

And I've made a few pieces of jewellery

1. Shelley Cluster Necklace,
2. Pebble Cluster Necklace,
3. Magnolia cluster necklace,
4. Wine Cluster Earrings,
5. Olive Cluster Earrings,
6. Custom Made Sage and Lavender Drop,
7. Rosy Cluster Necklace,
8. Summer Cluster

This weekend

We'll be heading up to Cape Croker this long weekend for some camping. Looks like the weather will be (mostly) agreeable.
Photos to follow!

Summer 2007 Mosaics

2007-07-08T19:16:00.000-04:00

Seems I've been a bit quiet lately. Work has been very busy and by the end of the day, I find it hard to sit down to blog. But that doesn't mean we haven't been enjoying our free time! So far this summer has been great - camping, hiking, Pride - and it seems the rest of the summer will be just as much fun. Instead of doing long wordy posts, I'm going to cop out with a photo gallery. Enjoy!

Camping at Killbear Provincial Park

1. All packed and ready to go home
2. Sludge
3. Shifty eyes boy
4. Group o'campers unposing
5. It's DEET time
6. Tofu Scramble

Toronto Pride 2007

1. Hula Hoopin' at the TVA Queer Veggie Picnic
2. TD, proud and buff
3. Zanta Pride
4. Hello, soy lovers!
5. Claire can has a veggieburger
6. So many potential outcomes
7. Veggie dog! Nom! Nom!
8. Smoo(s)ch!
9. This is what a model looks like up close
10. i has attitude
11. We're so vain
12. Clear skies for Pride

Canada Day Long Weekend

1. Mustard Fields
2. Giant Rock
3. It's a struggle to get into those roti rolls
4. Pool inside the Grotto
5. Indian Head Cove
6. Tobermory Marina
7. Almost Tropical
8. The view outside from inside The Grotto

Nanopod Studio

2007-06-27T17:18:00.001-04:00

I just got an email from Akimbo about classes at Nanopod Studio. I'd done a little silver jewellery making in high school and loved it, so I've been thinking forever to take the beginner course – and now they are offering a 15% discount when you register with a friend! Now, if only I had an interested friend...

This is the email I received:

Celebrating our 2nd year on Harbord Street nanopod is offering 15% off 8 week & 3 week courses when you register with a friend!
Summer Courses & Workshops

Learn to hand fabricate & cast your own jewelry & sculptures out of Sterling Silver!

You will make a band ring,
learn one of the oldest casting techniques,
set stones, and much more...

Beginning Jewelry July 4th or July 9th
8 weeks, Monday evenings or Wednesday evenings
6:30 - 9:30pm $250 (deposit of half is required to hold space)

week #1: First evening: working with copper-safety, drilling, sawing, soldering.
week #2: Making a band ring out of silver (stamp, hammer finish, roller print, etc.)
week #3:working with wax create pieces w/the lost wax technique
week #4: Finishing wax projects, cleaning up castings> cuttlebone casting [mishka: I will have to ask if there is an alternative to the cuttlebone class. maybe more wax practice?]
week #5: bezel settings, tube settings, alternative settings for found objects
week #6: forming & findings (ear wires, pin backs, pendants), married metal > create beautiful silver beads,etc.
week #7: riveting, make another piece!
week #8: finish up projects

No experience necessary!

Happy Pride 2007!

2007-06-22T17:26:00.000-04:00

In my world, the start of summer isn't signaled by barbecues or by trips to the beach. For me, the event that tells me we've finally reached summer is Pride Week. Whether the weather is humid and hot, or a rainy downpour, Pride is an event I haven't missed in years. And it looks as though the weather is going to be perfect this weekend with temperatures at 21 and 26 degrees and sunny skies.

Last year, this guy stood at the edge of a dance area on Wellesley with a sign that said "Homosexuality are SIN!! According to God words only solution is Jesus". So we took this photo. Others took their own.

This year, the plans are just as loose as previous years. Tonight, we hang out on Church Street, tomorrow morning we run the Pride Run 5k, tomorrow afternoon I plan to pop in to the Queer Veggie Picnic put on by the Toronto Vegetarian Association, tomorrow night will be played by ear, as will Sunday. We haven't watched the parade in a few years – it is so busy along the parade route and the parade is so long. Instead, parade time is the perfect time to avoid line-ups and get food, use the toilet, check out the vendors and service booths, and park your butt in a comfy spot in a beer garden. With a warm beer.

I dread Monday morning, but look forward to having lots of fun this weekend! Happy Pride!

2007-06-22T09:43:00.001-04:00

Camping season begins! Let's eat!

2007-06-11T20:38:00.000-04:00

This weekend will be the first camping trip of the summer. And that means that I'm starting to think of one of my favourite parts of camping - cooking and eating outdoors!

I'm hoping to not bring too much food this time. When I start figuring out the food list, it's like I'm shopping for an army instead of just 2 people! This is my list so far:

pre-marinated scrambled tofu: crumbled tofu, marinated in lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic and mixed with sun-dried tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, nutritional yeast
(maybe) premade potato salad: potatoes, vinaigrette, broccoli, asparagus
premade quinoa salad: quinoa, red lentils, sun-dried tomatoes, leafy greens, lemon juice
1 can of baked beans in tomato sauce
1 package of veggie bacon
package of whole wheat bagels
1 box of Lick's Nature Burgers
burger buns
burger toppings: tomato, onion, lettuce?
potatoes, carrot and onion pouches (vegetables, foil)
Earth Balance, canola oil
ketchup, dijon mustard
bannock mix - flour, oil, salt
peanut butter
apples
V8, water, pop

We know a couple who went on a camping trip with nothing but trail mix. Just to see if they could last eating nothing else! I think they lasted 2 days before they started trading trail mix for their friends' food.

What veg-friendly food do you using bring with you on camping trips, car trips and picnics?

2007-06-11T19:13:00.000-04:00

This is ridiculously cute.

Thanks to Carla for sending me the link!

Trudi's Studio Makeover

2007-06-05T13:12:00.000-04:00

My very talented friend Trudi of Double Happiness was recently featured as a "flickr find" on Apartment Therapy Home Tech! Trudi's been setting up her beautiful new studio over the past little while where she creates her gorgeous and inspiring books. Her paper hanger solution for storing large sheets of paper is genius, and she generously includes a How-to!

Plastic Ocean

2007-06-04T16:53:00.000-04:00

I want to thank Carla for bringing this article to my attention. Do yourself a favour and read it.

Our oceans are turning into plastic...are we?

... and don't think that presenting this article right after I gushed about the new car, which is complete with new car smell, is lost on me. Sadly, it isn't. Sometimes I wish for blissful ignorance. But it is not in my cards.

And now I'll shut up

2007-06-01T13:01:00.000-04:00

Here we are.

We picked up our teensy, fuel efficient, very blue, cute as heck Honda Fit last night. So far, we love it! The boy has the day off work today and he ended up going mountain biking, but stopped at the office first to show off our little gem. Co-workers were impressed with the amount of space it has for a small car, and with how the seats fold up and back and down. I'm impressed with all the little design details (headlamps, molded cup holders), our iPod connector and the peppiness on the highway.

Driving home last night, looking at the interior of the car, I told the boy, "Y'know, it's about the width of a king size bed!"

Our first big trip will be to Fergus on Saturday. Taking the backroads, of course.

Bittersweetness

2007-05-30T13:20:00.000-04:00

For those of you who have sat through my "Ya! We're getting a car!" posts, you may have noticed that I have not posted a "Ya! We have a car now!" entry.

After almost a month of phonecalls, phonecalls not returned, being strung along, delays and broken promises of delivery dates, we have now confirmed that tomorrow evening we can pick up our new car - without the sunroof. Apparently, a part is on order for installation of the sunroof and it would take until next Wednesday (!) for it to be ready. Considering we have waited this long AND we have to make a trip to Fergus this weekend (minimum 5 hours or so on the bus in total) for the boy's sister's 30th birthday, we were not going to happily wait until next week. So, we're picking it up tomorrow and we'll take it back, when the part is in, for installation.

We're happy and excited, but the joy has been slightly deflated by the hassles we've had. Welcome to car ownship, I suppose.

ETA: After I wrote this last sentence, a quote from frequent reader and commenter, Sophie, came to mind: "Goody, goody, gumdrops" :D

2007-05-27T21:05:00.001-04:00

At 34 years old, I still have not learned what my drinking limit is. I also still have not quite figured out that I am no longer able to recover from a night of drinking like when I was in my 20s. As a result, most of my day has been spent in bed or on the couch. Thank goodness for those 8 episodes of Penn & Teller's Bullsh*t and, when I could stomach it, that entire pizza and those 2 cans of ginger ale.

Electronic coach

2007-05-26T11:49:00.000-04:00

I recently discovered the Couch to 5k podcast. I'd been trying to run on my own, at my own pace, since the weather got warmer and things just weren't feeling right. I suppose "my own pace" really isn't much of a challenge. So, I downloaded this 9 episode podcast, developed by Robert Ullrey and based on Cool Running's beginner running program.

Since I'd already been running a bit, I decided to start at week 2's episode, then moved up to week 3 the very next running day and then to week 4. If you're just starting out, each of these episodes should be followed for 3 separate days, or 1 episode per week with a rest day in between each. Two days ago I completed week 5, and today I shall start day 1 of week 6. The last run was 5 min warm-up, 20 min run and 5 min cool-down. Yeah - I ran for 20 minutes straight! Woo! Of course, my lungs felt it for the rest of the day - but in that good way.

The podcasts are set to upbeat electronic music, which I thought would annoy me like crazy but I've been able to tune it out and focus on the quick paced beat. Then Robert pops in every so often to tell you when to run, walk, cool down, or just to offer some positive words. There are 9 different episodes, all designed to get you running a full 5k without stopping. Which is good timing for me, since I've signed up to run the Pride 5k in about 4 weeks - the same number of podcasts left for me to complete!

No poo

2007-05-25T18:13:00.001-04:00

I have to come clean. I've already outed myself to several friends and family members, and now it is time I make the announcement.

I haven't shampooed my hair since the fall.

It's true. Well, with the exception of once or twice. But that does not mean I haven't washed my hair in all that time. I have been. But with baking soda.

I first heard about this "No 'poo" thing on VeganRepresent.com, and I decided to try it right away. The basics of No 'pooing is to wash your hair with a baking soda solution, scrubbing and rubbing your scalp in a circular motion, and rinse with an apple cider vinegar solution. I experimented with different strengths of solutions to find what was best for me, and I now have my own system.

Why no shampoo?

Because it is filled with chemicals and whatever you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body. Have you ever read the ingredients list for beauty products? Can you pronounce or recognize most of the ingredients? Probably not. And I've decided I don't want to take the chance of those chemicals leeching into my body.

The other reason is that shampoo is designed to strip the oils from your hair and scalp. Then, most people replace those oils with conditioner. Sounds counterproductive, doesn't it? Many people have to shampoo their hair every day - and that is mostly caused by the shampoo itself. Your scalp works on a supply and demand basis - the more your shampoo, the more your scalp produces oil. Once your body adjusts to the baking soda method (and there is an adjustment period while your skin learns to produce oil only as it needs to) you can go a few days or longer between cleansing before your scalp produces the same amount of oil.

Another reason - it is a lot less expensive than the $12 bottle of shampoo I was buying.

The basic method is to dissolve 1 tbsp of baking soda in enough water to make a paste. This gets rubbed into your scalp in circles, stimulating the blood flow and opening clogged pores. Start with circular motions on the top of your head, working your way to your part, then on the back of your head, and then to your temples. Constant circles and gentle rubbing is key as this loosens the oil from your scalp and hair. As I experimented, I found that I needed more baking soda, so I use the basic method, plus I dissolve 1 tsp of baking soda into 1 cup of water, and add that just before I start the circular scrubbing.

After letting the solution sit for a minute or two, I then pour a mix of apple cider vinegar and water (1 cup of water, maybe 3 tbsps of vinegar) onto my hair and rub it in. This sits for a couple of minutes before being well rinsed out. There are other instructions on this page.

When your hair dries, you scalp will feel clean but not stripped, and your hair will be very soft. Don't worry about smelling like vinegar - the smell goes away with rinsing and drying.

I'd love to know if anyone gives it try!

Advice from a stranger

2007-05-21T19:29:00.000-04:00

I normally do not get approached by strangers in public. I think I generally have a wall around me that tells people to leave me alone. But yesterday, a cute little Asian woman on the subway decided to ignore my wall to give me all sorts of advice:

"You are very pretty. Be careful when you look for a husband – some men may take advantage of you."

"If you do not find a husband, that is okay. You do not need one."

"When you look for a husband, and you see a man with a large head, tell him 'no thanks'. That way, your baby will have a small head and you will not have to be cut open when you give birth." (I told her the boy has a small head. This pleased her)

"When you are pregnant, the baby's head grows fastest when you are sleeping. So, when you sleep, set your alarm clock to wake you every four hours. Then, get up and have a little something to eat. Then the head will not get so big and you will not have to be cut open to give birth."

"When your husband wants sex, check your pulse. If your pulse is too fast, tell him 'no. my condition is not good.'"

Hiking in our own urban backyard

2007-05-21T18:15:00.000-04:00

This Victoria Day long weekend kinda caught us by surprise. Queen Victoria was born on May 24, and the holiday is unofficially referred to here in Canada as "The May Two-Four", as in the large case of beer. This year, however, the weekend started on the 19th and felt way too early for May 2-4, so we didn't think to make plans. Sometimes, being able to wake up on Saturday morning and ask yourself "What do I want to do today?" is exactly what you need.

This weekend has been a mix of extreme sadness and much needed quiet. The sadness came in the form of the death of a great friend's mother. That's all I will mention about it here. The rest of the weekend was a mix of activities that got our minds off the bustle of last week.

Saturday, we had a nice brunch at a Tex-Mex restaurant down the road, where we fed sparrows some chips and bread on the back patio. After brunch, we walked towards Castle Frank Road, entered an urban park system and hiked for a few hours. I'd never been through these parks before, and was really surprised at how far removed from the city they felt, though they were just tucked in behind some of the city's busiest roads. You can see on the map below the green space where we walked – we walked the ravine to the west, came back and went slightly north to the Don Valley Brick Works, and back south to Bloor-Danforth.

And of course we brought our cameras!

Blossoms in the sun

Dandelion, close up. I've always loved dandelions and never understood what people had against them.

Some huge mushrooms growing on a tree stump

Happy hikers!

Don Valley Brick Works

On Sunday, it was a day of spring cleaning – laundry, sweeping, washing, cleaning. We removed the slip cover from the damaged couch (which I complained about here) and beat the cushions to release the settled dust. After taking a good long look at the couch sans cover, we made a decision to leave the cover off and temporarily cover up the arms. I ripped apart the small side cushions that came with the couch (which we never use) and figured out a way to attach the fabric to the arms. But, needing a curved sewing needle, I had to pop out to Fabricland to find a needle and some fabric to make new side cushions that we'll actually use. A little digging in the remnants bin produced not only some beautiful silver-grey fabric for cushions, but 2 rolls of dark blue fabric that matched the colour of the couch perfectly and that was longer and wider than the repurposed fabric I'd ripped apart earlier! For less than $10!

The fabric covered beautifully (it looks less lumpy in person than it does in this photo). So far, we've only completed 1 arm, but I plan to do the next one some time this week.

Today, we had a great lazy day, watching Of Mice and Men, doing a little clothes shopping at the Eaton Centre, filling our tummies with Indian Food, and some more movie-watching. I expect even more lazing about, ending with the season finale of 24!

The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada

2007-05-15T21:50:00.000-04:00

While not so patiently waiting for our car to be ready (I mean, c'mon! How hard is it to find a blue Honda Fit in the area?!), I've been thinking of all sorts of places we can finally visit now that we'll be able to drive. I recently heard about The Donkey Sanctuary, which is just outside of Guelph - probably about an hour drive from our home - and I can't wait to visit!

I have soft spot in my heart for donkeys. When I was a kid, my hometown had a public barn/petting farm where a donkey lived, along with lots of other animals. The poor creature would often cry out from its empty, muddy, grassless and lonely pen at the people walking through the park. Whenever I was there, I would spend time petting and talking to the donkey - and the goats - because they didn't seem to get a lot of attention. They weren't "cute" like the bunnies or sheep. But they were incredibly friendly and wonderful.

It makes me sad, thinking back on the lives those animals had at that old barn in the middle of a suburban park. I only hope that maybe the animals that no longer live there were able to live out their lives in a happy place. And those who didn't get a chance to leave have a little place in my heart.

Famous last words

2007-05-10T20:26:00.000-04:00

"How hard can it be?"

Well, I seem to think pretty hard. The boy, well, he's confidant we can do it.

Once upon a time, I used to have a nice dark blue couch. I got it from Ikea and it was exactly what I'd been looking for. Fast forward almost 10 years and I have a worn sofa covered in a hideous, stretchy, ill-fitting, sage green slipcover that cost me way too much. Tetley had discovered scratching the arm of the couch about 6 years ago and she's destroyed one arm and recently ripped holes in the slipcover. Since we both despise the awkward cover, we've decided we will try to reupholster it ourselves, if only to prolong the time before we need to replace the entire couch. We've gotten a quote on a professional doing the job, and the price was way out of our range. Honestly, we could've replaced the couch for that price!

Neither of us has recovered a piece of furniture. But we have a sewing machine and a good staple gun. All we need is fabric and strong needles.

Now for my plea: does anyone out there know of a reupholstery class being taught at a studio or school in Toronto? Leave a comment or email! I'm desperate!

Third time's a charm

2007-05-10T19:19:00.000-04:00

I've been knitting every weekday, though not blogging about it. I spent about 3 weeks knitting a pair of long arm warmers (I knit on the subway, about an hour total each day), and now the weather is beautiful. Then I moved on to socks. The first attempt, my gauge was off and the sock ended up too large. I don't like to start a project over, so I ditched it and move on to another. During the second attempt, I finally gave in close the end of the first sock, knowing that I would not have enough yarn to finish the second one. Then I turned to the cute sock yarn Robyn sent me a few months ago and started knitting a pair for the boy. So far, so good! I love the colours of the yarn and I think they will look great on him!

2007-05-10T17:45:00.000-04:00

It's review time at work. They're a little late, but they always are. At the beginning of the week, we were told that they had to be done by tomorrow. No biggie - we've done away with filling out the Review Questionnaire so it's really just a long chat about where we are, where we want to go any problems we might be having and what our yearly increase is. The boy had his two days ago, as did everyone else and by the end of the day, it was too late to do mine. I found out today that mine will be tomorrow, partly because my reviews take energy! I've been given "homework" this year to do before the review - decide what I want out of the next year - plus I'm having a pre-review chat with the creative director/big boss to dicuss these things, then I'm having the review. Um. I didn't know I was so complacent.

The problem, I suppose, is that I am never really sure where I want to go. I don't know what I want out of the next year. I'm sure I want something... but what is that something? I've moved into a new role recently, a role I've never really tried out before. I'm now delegating work to the more junior designers - something I always let others do. I mean, I struggle with keeping my own work on track, let alone anyone else's! I'm very easily distracted. I'm not great with client meetings, so we've phased those out of my duties. I don't want to be just a designer - I want to be involved in our work at a higher level. I'd like to continue being involved in the conceptual process. But I do not have this vision of what or where I want to be that I feel I am supposed to have.

I mean, am I alone? Does everyone have these yearly plans and 5 year plans? I've just never been able to nail that stuff down. Long-term goals? What are those? I feel as though I'm constantly in an uphill climb to being me, but that final vision of myself is fuzzy and too far away.

UPDATE. Sometimes things are just so freaking obvious. I know what I want. A short discussion with the boy and it all became clear! More later...

Um, if you wanna know, just ask.

2007-05-10T14:55:00.000-04:00

This is definitely the weirdest search hit I've gotten.

But, knowledge is power and all that...

2007-05-07T15:31:00.000-04:00

This makes me a little sad.

I am trying to come up with an idea/concept to promote a repository type of website. Apparently, stock photo companies haven't discovered that libraries are, in fact, cool.

Beep, beep!

2007-05-05T15:31:00.000-04:00

Today the boy went out with his dad to a Honda dealership in Mississauga to check out what they offer and to test drive the car again. I just got a phonecall - and we are now owners of a Honda Fit! We still need to wait for them to find the car we want and install all of our extras (we got a few awesome things thrown in), and the boy's income tax refund still needs to arrive. But we should have the car soon! And then we can go camping, weekend hiking, the boy can get out of the city to mountain bike, we can see our families without it being an entire weekend of buses... I'm very excited!

It's not you, it's me. Okay - it's you.

2007-05-03T12:52:00.000-04:00

Today marks the first day of trying to get my caffeine addiction under control.

Step 1 - admit that those 2 mornings this week when you were grumpy and tired were, in fact, due to not having fresh ground coffee available those mornings

Step 2 - decide if you want caffeine to have that affect on you

Step 3 - make a plan to reduce caffeine intake. It doesn't have to be severe. No need to release the grumpies on everyone in your path.

Step 4 - buy a decent coffee substitute and start diluting morning coffee. Teeccino gets great reviews!

Step 5 - try hard not to scrap previous steps.

The thing about coffee is not so much the caffeine kick, but the deep flavour and the ritual of making it. Teeccino is designed to take care of both those things. Upon opening the canister, I found it full of "grounds" made up of herbs, grains, fruits and nuts. The smell is a bit coffee-orange-spice. I like my coffee medium to dark, black and unflavoured, but the smell of Teeccino wasn't unpleasant by any means.

I scooped 2 tablespoons into the coffee press, added my just below boiling water and stirred. Hmm - a lot like coffee. After 5 minutes, I pushed down the plunger and poured my cup. It tasted just as it smelled, with a little sweetness. Again, I drink my coffee black (including no sugar) so I could have done without the sweetness. But the flavour was good. Definitely not coffee, but a good, deep and complex flavour. I gave the boy a sip, and he thought it was okay as well. But he takes sugar.

I finished the cup. And I didn't feel deprived of my morning ritual the way I feel when I just make tea. Not to mention, tea upsets my tummy in the morning sometimes. I'll have it again tomorrow, but this time I will dilute with coffee grounds. I definitely want to avoid any possible headaches or crankiness.

There is also still the excellent coffee at work that I need to deal with. One step at a tme, I guess.

I don't get it

2007-05-02T18:03:00.000-04:00

I've been living in high rise apartment buildings for over 30 years and I still don't understand why someone will not hold the elevator door open for a person who is only a few feet away. And I'm not just talking about in the lobby where people are more anonymous. I'm talking about people letting the door close as one of their hallway neighbours is obviously walking quickly towards the elevator. I just don't get it.

Move 'em out!

2007-05-01T13:44:00.000-04:00

On a whim, I decided to move my food logs to a new blog, mishka's vegan food log. I'll start moving my most recent food log posts over there.

Gotta get out, get me some of those ra-aa-ays!

2007-04-30T14:54:00.000-04:00

The weather has been gorgeous lately, and I felt it was time to take Pekoe out on her harness so she could get some fresh air and direct sunlight. Of course, she is always freaked a bit when we go outside - the outdoor sounds, smells and sights are so fascinating to a house cat! Since walking a cat is nearly impossible, we just sit in a sunny spot near the building, she climbs on my lap (a rarity!) and I get to comb out a bunch of her undercoat (also a rarity!). As I tossed the huge tufts of fur on the ground around us (hey - it's biodegradable!) a small bird flew down, grabbed some of the fur, and flew away with it! I told Pekoe, "Look! Your fur is being reused by the birdies!" She gets so distracted by the sensory overload that she doesn't even care about the outside birdies.

In other events of the day, earlier Claire, the boy, my mom, my sister and I took a trip to the annual Good Food Festival, where we snacked on samples, bought hot sauce, bread and parchment paper, and made my sister eat an olive.

Later in the day, the boy and I had a wonderful dinner with Julian, Christina and Wes. On the way to their condo, the air turned chilly so I put on my striped arms warmers. A few minutes later, a passing car slowed and the boys in the back seat yelled out to me in unison "Beetlejuice!" My reaction was a mix of wounded pride and amusement. The boy laughed his ass off. Thanks, boy.

That evening Christina and Julian made us such a great dinner - Bipimbop (a Korean dish made with rice, vegetables and a spicy sauce) with avocado rolls. With the boy being vegetarian, me being vegan, and Wes on a strict detox, the meal was made vegan, salt-free and almost sugar-free! And it was incredible - black rice topped with shredded carrots, cucumber, sprouts, spinach and a sweet chili sauce for the bipimbop, and avocado, lettuce, wheat wrappers, green mango, green apple and a dijon sauce for the wraps. So tasty, so light and so filling! I also tried Soursop for the first time. Even though it goes against my desire to eat more locally, I think I need to shop in Chinatown occasionally just to try new things.

Updated!!

2007-04-28T21:48:00.000-04:00

I finally updated my shop! Thanks to VeganKnitting for giving me a little kick in the pants.

And, yes - That is a Facebook tab opened behind the Etsy Shop. Add me to the obsessed.

ETA: 1 necklace is spoken for already! Thanks, my friend Summer!

ETA#2: The Magnolia cluster necklace is sold! Thanks, Lindsay! You rock!