Today I had an epiphany! I figured out the perfect birthday gift for a friend of mine.
Such an awesome feeling! Now, the question is, will I have time to get it done?
Moments pondering others.
Moments realizing just how well you know your friends.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Moments D446: Familiar Faces Parked Outside
This evening I was running late to get to a friends BBQ. In a mad dash out of my apartment, my step quickly slowed as I noticed there was someone sitting in the car just outside my home. I slowed enough to realize that the gentleman in the car was someone I knew. Someone I would never expect to be in my neighbourhood. I know this gentleman from work. He and his wife are fellow foodies, in fact, his wife has a food blog focused on some of her recipes and creations.
What a surprise! My co-worker jumped from his car looking as shocked as I felt! He promised that he wasn't stalking me (we had a laugh over that) and explained that his wife's elementary school friend lived, you guessed it, next door to me. It's crazy how small our world can be sometimes!
My co-worker was surprised that I was living here, as he was unaware of my separation and my relocation. It's strange to work with someone and them not be aware of a major life shift nearly 2 years ago in the making. Granted, I only see this co-worker sporadically, but I found it pretty incredible given the well known information grapevine within my company! So I gave him a brief run down of my situation. That in itself was odd. I haven't shared that story in months now and my co-worker received a very short, watered-down version.
And then I was on my way.
But before I could get into the car I was invited to join my neighbours should I return early enough from my own BBQ. I never made it back in time, but it felt lovely to be invited.
Moments of surprise.
Moment connecting a little deeper with a co-worker outside work.
What a surprise! My co-worker jumped from his car looking as shocked as I felt! He promised that he wasn't stalking me (we had a laugh over that) and explained that his wife's elementary school friend lived, you guessed it, next door to me. It's crazy how small our world can be sometimes!
My co-worker was surprised that I was living here, as he was unaware of my separation and my relocation. It's strange to work with someone and them not be aware of a major life shift nearly 2 years ago in the making. Granted, I only see this co-worker sporadically, but I found it pretty incredible given the well known information grapevine within my company! So I gave him a brief run down of my situation. That in itself was odd. I haven't shared that story in months now and my co-worker received a very short, watered-down version.
And then I was on my way.
But before I could get into the car I was invited to join my neighbours should I return early enough from my own BBQ. I never made it back in time, but it felt lovely to be invited.
Moments of surprise.
Moment connecting a little deeper with a co-worker outside work.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Moments D445: Healing Cuteness
Ma-ku, my kitten, is back from the vet and, thankfully doing well. She's been quite a cutie as she's been healing and today's moment is just a reflection upon those cute moments.
Ma-ku used to like to lay on my chest when she was a wee thing. As she grew, she understood that she was too big to sleep on my chest any more and the behaviour changed. She'd be on my lap, or lay partially on my legs, but she wouldn't bother climbing up to my chest and neck area.
Well, since she's been home, that's the only place she wants to be. In fact, I fell asleep with her late last night (early this morning!) with her on my chest and woke with her in nearly the same position. Tonight as I tried to eat my dinner in front of the TV, she tried to crawl up again. I'm sure when I crawl into bed she will follow and lay upon my chest for another night.
She's sore and slow from the medications, but she is happy and purring. Tomorrow we take a quick trip back to the vet to have her pain medication patch (it works like a nicotine patch) wrapped around her tail. Hopefully that isn't too traumatic to head back to the vet again so soon.
Moments enjoying that kitty is home again.
Moments being amazed that even animals can be sucky when they aren't feeling well.
Ma-ku used to like to lay on my chest when she was a wee thing. As she grew, she understood that she was too big to sleep on my chest any more and the behaviour changed. She'd be on my lap, or lay partially on my legs, but she wouldn't bother climbing up to my chest and neck area.
Well, since she's been home, that's the only place she wants to be. In fact, I fell asleep with her late last night (early this morning!) with her on my chest and woke with her in nearly the same position. Tonight as I tried to eat my dinner in front of the TV, she tried to crawl up again. I'm sure when I crawl into bed she will follow and lay upon my chest for another night.
She's sore and slow from the medications, but she is happy and purring. Tomorrow we take a quick trip back to the vet to have her pain medication patch (it works like a nicotine patch) wrapped around her tail. Hopefully that isn't too traumatic to head back to the vet again so soon.
Moments enjoying that kitty is home again.
Moments being amazed that even animals can be sucky when they aren't feeling well.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Moments D444: Court
Today's moment was a learning opportunity. Early this year (April actually) I received a traffic violation ticket for not having my license plate sticker renewed for the year. It was totally my fault. I received the notification to do so, in February, and then I carefully proceeded to tuck it away somewhere safe until I had to actually update my sticker.
Shockingly, I forgot all about the renewal.
And so, I found myself with a $110 ticket for my forgetfulness. DAMN! The police officer that gave me the ticket was very kind and explained that if I purchased my renewal sticker within the week and asked for an early resolution I'd likely have the ticket withdrawn. And so, my adventures in the legal processes in Ontario began. I sent in my letter (yes, a good old fashioned letter, in an envelope) to the courthouse downtown. Two weeks later I received a letter back with my appointment to meet at the courthouse to discuss my early resolution. It said, the Friday before our big tradeshow.
ACK!
And so, I sent them another letter, requesting a date further out. Again, I received a letter in return. Today was my actual court date. What a strange process so far. Little did I know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised in the end.
I arrived early. Good thing. There were (cute!) police officers at the door screening all who entered. My purse taken, I walked through the metal detector. Who knew that traffic violations were so serious! (I am joking, I realize that not all of us in the waiting room were there for traffic violations, but I was surprised to see such security!)
Seated, I waited for the next set of instructions and before long the prosecutor's assistant (a man with a fabulous head of hair and warm demeanour) started collecting our paperwork. (He reminded me of the "Big Lebowski") He then called us into his tiny room in groups of three. The speed at which he reduced fines and violations was incredible. I was impressed. I was in and out of that part of the process in maybe 3 minutes. MAYBE.
While my paperwork was in order and the traffic violation was withdrawn, I still had to go into the courtroom to have it officially dismissed. What a strange process! Being new to it all, I was actually enjoying being an observer. And boy, there was much to observe in the courtroom.
The room was very official, though quite scaled down. There was a seating area for approximately 20 people. At the front of the room was the judge, two legal, very official looking assistants. I would presume that one was the court recorder, while the other announced the violations and accepted the pleas. Of course, the prosecutor was in front of the table, facing the assistants and the judge along with the rest of us in the "peanut gallery".
It was all very official. Each and every one of the violations had a script followed. The person in violation was called to the front and they had to announce his or her name into a microphone. The judge addressed them, the assistant read out the violation and requested a plea. The judge was also very scripted. "Do you render this plea of your own free will? Are you aware that by doing so you give up your right for a trial. A plea of guilty comes with a penalty. The penalty is a fine. Do you accept these terms?" Then the prosecutor would announce what that fine she was asking for this reduced violation. In a few instances, the judge further decreased the fine for those that seemed to be in need of it. (a single mom, a struggling immigrant) But the judge also pushed back with another who tried to ride the gravy train of compassion. It was all so very, VERY interesting. I think I could have sat there all day just observing and absorbing.
When it was my turn it was rather anti-climatic. I stated my name and the prosecutor announced that my paperwork was in order and the violation was withdrawn. Just as quickly as I arrived to the front, the judge had set me on my way with quick "have a good day."
And that was that. For $7.50 in parking and an hour of my time I spared myself a $110 ticket fine. And, by watching the rest of the process, it seems it is fairly easy to get a reduced fine for speeding. All very interesting.
A moment of learning and observing.
A moment watching an age old tradition in the works.
Shockingly, I forgot all about the renewal.
And so, I found myself with a $110 ticket for my forgetfulness. DAMN! The police officer that gave me the ticket was very kind and explained that if I purchased my renewal sticker within the week and asked for an early resolution I'd likely have the ticket withdrawn. And so, my adventures in the legal processes in Ontario began. I sent in my letter (yes, a good old fashioned letter, in an envelope) to the courthouse downtown. Two weeks later I received a letter back with my appointment to meet at the courthouse to discuss my early resolution. It said, the Friday before our big tradeshow.
ACK!
And so, I sent them another letter, requesting a date further out. Again, I received a letter in return. Today was my actual court date. What a strange process so far. Little did I know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised in the end.
I arrived early. Good thing. There were (cute!) police officers at the door screening all who entered. My purse taken, I walked through the metal detector. Who knew that traffic violations were so serious! (I am joking, I realize that not all of us in the waiting room were there for traffic violations, but I was surprised to see such security!)
Seated, I waited for the next set of instructions and before long the prosecutor's assistant (a man with a fabulous head of hair and warm demeanour) started collecting our paperwork. (He reminded me of the "Big Lebowski") He then called us into his tiny room in groups of three. The speed at which he reduced fines and violations was incredible. I was impressed. I was in and out of that part of the process in maybe 3 minutes. MAYBE.
While my paperwork was in order and the traffic violation was withdrawn, I still had to go into the courtroom to have it officially dismissed. What a strange process! Being new to it all, I was actually enjoying being an observer. And boy, there was much to observe in the courtroom.
The room was very official, though quite scaled down. There was a seating area for approximately 20 people. At the front of the room was the judge, two legal, very official looking assistants. I would presume that one was the court recorder, while the other announced the violations and accepted the pleas. Of course, the prosecutor was in front of the table, facing the assistants and the judge along with the rest of us in the "peanut gallery".
It was all very official. Each and every one of the violations had a script followed. The person in violation was called to the front and they had to announce his or her name into a microphone. The judge addressed them, the assistant read out the violation and requested a plea. The judge was also very scripted. "Do you render this plea of your own free will? Are you aware that by doing so you give up your right for a trial. A plea of guilty comes with a penalty. The penalty is a fine. Do you accept these terms?" Then the prosecutor would announce what that fine she was asking for this reduced violation. In a few instances, the judge further decreased the fine for those that seemed to be in need of it. (a single mom, a struggling immigrant) But the judge also pushed back with another who tried to ride the gravy train of compassion. It was all so very, VERY interesting. I think I could have sat there all day just observing and absorbing.
When it was my turn it was rather anti-climatic. I stated my name and the prosecutor announced that my paperwork was in order and the violation was withdrawn. Just as quickly as I arrived to the front, the judge had set me on my way with quick "have a good day."
And that was that. For $7.50 in parking and an hour of my time I spared myself a $110 ticket fine. And, by watching the rest of the process, it seems it is fairly easy to get a reduced fine for speeding. All very interesting.
A moment of learning and observing.
A moment watching an age old tradition in the works.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Moments D443: Steaming open an envelope
This evening I wrote out a couple of cards for people nearest and dearest to me. Why? Why not is really the question - why not!?
Hand writing cards have become a lost art, in our digital era and yet, who doesn't smile when they get a note in their mail? Writing out cards for those I love is something I really love to do. Words of encouragement. Words of love. Words reminding my favourite peeps to love themselves a lot more and to be less hard on themselves. And, I love the element of surprise. They are unknowing and I never know when it will actually be delivered.
Today, when I sealed one of my cards in its envelope, I realized that you could read what I wrote on the back of it through the envelope. Tacky. I don't want the world to read my words meant for the eyes of someone I love! And so, I found myself trying to re-open the envelope without damaging it.
Of course, this particular envelope's glue was holding fast! I decided to try an age old trick - steam the envelope open. I've never done this before. I wasn't even sure if it would work, but I had to try it before I cut it open.
And low and behold - IT WORKED! Happy dance, happy dance!
I fixed my card up so that it couldn't be read by anyone handling the envelope and then I taped it shut again.
So my moment today, a silly one, but one where I realized that ya, steaming open an envelope works as advertised!
Moments trying an old trick and it working.
Moments sharing words.
Hand writing cards have become a lost art, in our digital era and yet, who doesn't smile when they get a note in their mail? Writing out cards for those I love is something I really love to do. Words of encouragement. Words of love. Words reminding my favourite peeps to love themselves a lot more and to be less hard on themselves. And, I love the element of surprise. They are unknowing and I never know when it will actually be delivered.
Today, when I sealed one of my cards in its envelope, I realized that you could read what I wrote on the back of it through the envelope. Tacky. I don't want the world to read my words meant for the eyes of someone I love! And so, I found myself trying to re-open the envelope without damaging it.
Of course, this particular envelope's glue was holding fast! I decided to try an age old trick - steam the envelope open. I've never done this before. I wasn't even sure if it would work, but I had to try it before I cut it open.
And low and behold - IT WORKED! Happy dance, happy dance!
I fixed my card up so that it couldn't be read by anyone handling the envelope and then I taped it shut again.
So my moment today, a silly one, but one where I realized that ya, steaming open an envelope works as advertised!
Moments trying an old trick and it working.
Moments sharing words.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Moments D442: Fence Art
Today I took my baby Ma-Ku in to be spayed and declawed. I know she's in good hands and she's recuperating already! (Yes - go ahead and judge me. I still can't understand how removing an animals ability to breed is humane and yet declawing them isn't. Any surgery to modify your pet is "unnatural" and "against its natural being". You think cats were meant to be lounging around uninterested in reproducing? Nope....but, I digress!)
After I dropped her off, I noticed something quite incredible on my walk back to the car. Fence art. All along the wrought iron fence defining the local park was a most peculiar sight. It was a flotsam and jetsam of long forgotten knitted items. Abandoned sweaters, rugs and scarves were all neatly pulled apart, twisted, weaved and placed onto the fence.
What a delightful surprise. I stood on the sidewalk for quite a few moments just soaking it in! And then I took some pictures. (You'll see them below!) What a wonderful way to start my day!
Moments being surprised.
Moments enjoying new art.
After I dropped her off, I noticed something quite incredible on my walk back to the car. Fence art. All along the wrought iron fence defining the local park was a most peculiar sight. It was a flotsam and jetsam of long forgotten knitted items. Abandoned sweaters, rugs and scarves were all neatly pulled apart, twisted, weaved and placed onto the fence.
What a delightful surprise. I stood on the sidewalk for quite a few moments just soaking it in! And then I took some pictures. (You'll see them below!) What a wonderful way to start my day!
Moments being surprised.
Moments enjoying new art.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Moments D441: It's Pouring, it's pouring....
According to my weather station we had 100+mm of rain fell between 4:45 pm and 6 pm. That's a LOT of rain. Typically in the month of July we see an average of 74 mm or so. That's a WHOLE month of rain! The one-day record rainfall of 29.2 mm was blown out of the water by today's storm. Incredible.
(read more here and see some photos here and a cool video here)
Not only did I enjoy watching today's storm hit, I had fun splashing in the puddles on my way to the car after work. But the best moment of this storm was when I was all cozy eating dinner and I get a near panicked text from my aunt.
And then she filled me in. Oh my. I had no idea. What a crazy deluge! Incredible. Powerful. It will be curious to see what the next couple of days bring to clean it all up. I'm sure many homes were flooded in the lower areas of the city (likely my old home too come to think of it). While I'm grateful to be on the 2nd floor, my heart goes out to those dealing with flooded homes. I've been there, done that. It's not fun.
In all the years I've lived in Southern Ontario, I've never heard of such a storm or such widespread flooding. Mother Earth....are you angry with us?
Moments enjoying a rain storm.
Moments realizing that the storm turned the city inside out.
(read more here and see some photos here and a cool video here)
Not only did I enjoy watching today's storm hit, I had fun splashing in the puddles on my way to the car after work. But the best moment of this storm was when I was all cozy eating dinner and I get a near panicked text from my aunt.
"Hey, what the hell is going on there? You okay?""Um. Ya. I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?"
And then she filled me in. Oh my. I had no idea. What a crazy deluge! Incredible. Powerful. It will be curious to see what the next couple of days bring to clean it all up. I'm sure many homes were flooded in the lower areas of the city (likely my old home too come to think of it). While I'm grateful to be on the 2nd floor, my heart goes out to those dealing with flooded homes. I've been there, done that. It's not fun.
In all the years I've lived in Southern Ontario, I've never heard of such a storm or such widespread flooding. Mother Earth....are you angry with us?
Moments enjoying a rain storm.
Moments realizing that the storm turned the city inside out.
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