I’m now immersed in the No. One Ladies Detective Agency books. I really love this series. It’s very African in their style- or at least a [Southern African] style that I can relate to. They are gentle in tone, sweet and sad; not to be confused with being simple (as things African so often are). Yes, they are simple in construct and the lives depicted may be less “complicated” than the ones I see on a daily basis—but that isn’t to be confused with being simple.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that so often African lives are read as less complex than ours- primitive because they aren’t living in our modern world. Of course, that’s not true. Southern African is rife with such “modern” problems as unemployment, inflation, government corruption, war and of course AIDS. The lives of African people are not primitive (even the San groups depicted in The Gods Must Be Crazy have lives that are very different than those depicted in the film). The simplicity illustrated is more an approach to life.
One of the great moments in the series is the conversation about Freud in the Tears of the Giraffe which was a great example of this. On the surface, it appears that the author is mocking the two conversationalists by providing them with a deliberate misunderstanding of Freud. Instead, the conversation turns out to be a rather brilliant (if sly) mocking of Freud and much of the self absorption that goes along with psychology: of course boys should love their mothers: what is wrong with that? What’s the matter with people who take affront to such things? And the classic African line, “what is the matter with white people anyway?” I’m sure there are readers and reviewers that view these books as part of a colonial agenda, an attempt to portray Africans as simple minded and ignorant or, in that these books are, in the extreme, racist… (I did study social sciences—I can argue anything) but I think they are lovely books and have enjoyed reading them tremendously.
I also picked up a couple of Simon Winchester books at the library, so I have to get cracking on those. I have the new Ruth Riechl book on order and the latest Jonathon Kellerman “Rage”. I want to read more Karen Armstrong (or, you know, finish the book I’ve been reading for YEARS) and Andrew Meldrum and some other good books in the next month or so. Not too much time before I am a law student and unable to read anything other than law every again.
Well, my interest & excitement about studying law has come back. I got my registration package in the mail, must fax them in tomorrow. There’s no real course selection involved at this point: I have to take the same classes as everybody else. The only choice is do I want my small reading group to be torts or criminal law and procedure? I think, with my vast knowledge of criminal law (based solely on Law & Order and Legally Blonde) that perhaps torts is the best bet.
I believe I have a busy night tonight: running with Michael & Jan (really slow, more a warm up really); getting some laundry done (my running clothes may start a rebellion soon); finishing my registration papers; calling Anne to ask about this weekend; preparing lunches; cleaning and, of course, watching Average Joes. I’m bummed that I’ll be missing the finale tomorrow night. But I know Michael would never deign to tape it for me. It’s ok—not like I’ll be missing much.
Work’s ok. I am the master of the phones. Well, sometimes the phones drive me mental (they are messing around with voicemail today so no calls to the second floor are going to voice mail. I may have been a little short (polite, but short) with the edjit trying to “fix” this. So, maybe I’m not the master of this, but I’m enjoying it. Still managed to keep my sense of humor- whenever anyone asks to be on hold for awhile I feel like humming Girl from Ipanema something equally ridiculous. Now, I don’t love this enough to do this full time, mind you. And office politics will always drive me a bit mad. It’s fun though—I heard two sides of the same argument the other day and really? Didn’t phase me in the slightest.
It’s very much a man’s world here. It’s funny but it reminds me of my Dad in so many ways. I mean, the men here are all very earnest, problem solving types, all wearing the same ring! But it’s more than that—it’s like understanding the way my Dad works and the world in which he worked for so long. It’s a trip—this is such an impenetrable male environment. All makes sense. And I miss my Dad.
There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered. – Nelson Mandela
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
More more more – how do you like it??
Hey look! I’m posting again within a week. Of course no one reads this, so it’s probably beside the point. There’s a whole bunch of things I’d be interested in writing about (the situation in Zimbabwe! The secular humanistic crusade! The inane 60 Minutes report on Sunday and y’know Go Fug Yourself) - but I’m not sure if anyone is actually reading this—if you are, make a comment or something. The only comment I’ve had so far was from boogiestreet telling me to get Belle drunk (thanks homes, but she’s got a low alcohol tolerance and is a bit of a puker). Anywho…
Still on the job--- the phones are seeming a lot less crazy these days (or maybe I’ve just figured them out?). I even mastered paging. I am the courier queen. No dead mice being experimented on by the photocopier. It's all good. Everybody’s so nice—such a change from some of the other places I’ve worked in the past couple of years. I’m sure there are some crazies around but so far so good. I do have wonder if it’s just because I know that the end is in sight? But who cares? I’m only here for another week or so… Besides, I think I’ve identified some office supplies I want.
I ran the 3rd race in the Beaver Chase series last night. I probably won’t get a T shirt for the series this summer. They give them based on the number of races you’ve attended—people who’ve only run two rarely get T shirts. Some guy was complaining that he'd been running the series for three years and still hadn't received a T shirt.
The race itself was a beautiful 6km (4 mile) loop—most of it done on a trail through the woods. I started off too fast (rookie mistake—will I ever learn?), ended up drafting a bit with Helen (an awesome runner) who took off just before the halfway/ water stop point and left me in her dust. Still, I’m ok with my time—felt that it was a good effort. Next time I’ll do better. Claudia was there—she’s on board with my Whitlock scheme. She’s a pretty hilarious and way fast as a runner. Besides, she likes 80s music (last night she was blasting Bananrama) so you gotta love it.
You gotta be...
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
Still on the job--- the phones are seeming a lot less crazy these days (or maybe I’ve just figured them out?). I even mastered paging. I am the courier queen. No dead mice being experimented on by the photocopier. It's all good. Everybody’s so nice—such a change from some of the other places I’ve worked in the past couple of years. I’m sure there are some crazies around but so far so good. I do have wonder if it’s just because I know that the end is in sight? But who cares? I’m only here for another week or so… Besides, I think I’ve identified some office supplies I want.
I ran the 3rd race in the Beaver Chase series last night. I probably won’t get a T shirt for the series this summer. They give them based on the number of races you’ve attended—people who’ve only run two rarely get T shirts. Some guy was complaining that he'd been running the series for three years and still hadn't received a T shirt.
The race itself was a beautiful 6km (4 mile) loop—most of it done on a trail through the woods. I started off too fast (rookie mistake—will I ever learn?), ended up drafting a bit with Helen (an awesome runner) who took off just before the halfway/ water stop point and left me in her dust. Still, I’m ok with my time—felt that it was a good effort. Next time I’ll do better. Claudia was there—she’s on board with my Whitlock scheme. She’s a pretty hilarious and way fast as a runner. Besides, she likes 80s music (last night she was blasting Bananrama) so you gotta love it.
You gotta be...
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
Saturday, July 16, 2005
SADIEBELLE'S SUMMER BOOK LIST
Libraries are good things. I found the Ottawa City Library. Now, this is a place to use the computer (woo-hoo) a very good thing considering Michael keeps trying to “fix” our web connection which means that I don’t have access 90% of the time. Other than that, it’s also a chance to read books in English. I have been reading a ridiculous number of books in the past couple of weeks. I have been throughly enjoying myself. I figure I have to read the good stuff now before September & law school.
Moving on... here's my recommendations (and a secondary list of books that maybe you'll love more than I did) This awesome booklist contains absolute rants: books I’ve loved that have provided succor and joy to my soul like a cold cloth on a fevered brow. My reactions tend to be unapologetically emotional, thus the order of this list is somewhat arbitrary. My apologies to all that I’ve previously ranted to about these books. Comments and recommendations are welcome (please – someone- make an intelligent comment to something I’ve written)
SMALL WONDER- Barbara Kingslover. A collection of essays inspired and collected in response to 9/11. Beautiful-- covering everything from mother-daughter relationships, ecologically sustainable living, family life, the role of the artist in the world and Barbie dolls. Beautifully written, heartfelt without coming across as overly earnest, its arguements make a compelling case for our interconnectedness with each other. I felt so connected to and positive about my fellow planet dwellers when i had finished the book.
SCRIBBLING THE CAT- Alexandra Fuller. She wrote the earlier memoir, DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT which is a must read primer on growing up in Zimbabwe during the war and the years following Independance. SCRIBBLING THE CAT follows her journey around southern Africa with a former white soldier. It deals with Africa today in its harshest, cruelest light while at the same time talking about redemption, a love for the land and a respect for its history.
UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN - Jon Krakuer. I've wanted to read this book for awhile-- I love Krakaur's writting and Mormonism fascinates me, so it seemed to be a good fit. He looks at the roots of the Mormon faith, its flirtaions with extremism and fundamentalism (into present times) and addresses the place of the Church as a power broker. Great-- sent me on a bit of a Morman reading binge.
LADIES NUMBER ONE DETECTIVE AGENCY - Alexander MacCall Smith. Another Zimbabwean on the list! hmmm.. think I miss Africa much?? Gentle, humourous and fun... a tale of the first Botswanan lady detective using her intuition and knowledge of human behavior (which seems pretty universal). I look forwad to reading the rest of the series. I did try the first in his Isabel Dalhousie series and didn't love it as much. Maybe his gift is writing about Africa and its peoples...
A COOK'S TOUR- Anthony Bourdain. I love this man. Sure he's crazy and violent and hates vegetarians and rude. He smokes like a chimney, drinks like a fish, is a substance abuser of the first order, completly crass and most likely dirty. Nonetheless, I would follow him around the world for a perfect meal, but until that happens, I'll settle for reading about it (see also: KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL).
THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB- Karen Joy Fowler. I love Austen, love the idea of an Austenian book club and this is a perfect book. Others that I respect disagree with my love of this book- but I think the author does a wonderful job bringing the elements of the "real" world together with Austen's world. Her books are so true today as they ever were. The Author also has a collection of responses to Ms. Austen's books throughout time.
THE WAY THE CROW FLIES- Anne Marie MacDonald. I didn't take to Fall On Your Knees (I had an idea of what it was about and really didn't feel like "engaging" with it). Mirin, a woman i worked with at the Bone Centre, said that this book was one to read. So I tried it and wow! I couldn't stop. I stayed up at night reading it and just-- was overcome. A mystery, a coming of age story, a story about the choices we make, of family, redemption and love. Absolutely fantastic.
Other books...
It’s the habit of learning to love that’s the thing-- Jane Austen
Moving on... here's my recommendations (and a secondary list of books that maybe you'll love more than I did) This awesome booklist contains absolute rants: books I’ve loved that have provided succor and joy to my soul like a cold cloth on a fevered brow. My reactions tend to be unapologetically emotional, thus the order of this list is somewhat arbitrary. My apologies to all that I’ve previously ranted to about these books. Comments and recommendations are welcome (please – someone- make an intelligent comment to something I’ve written)
SMALL WONDER- Barbara Kingslover. A collection of essays inspired and collected in response to 9/11. Beautiful-- covering everything from mother-daughter relationships, ecologically sustainable living, family life, the role of the artist in the world and Barbie dolls. Beautifully written, heartfelt without coming across as overly earnest, its arguements make a compelling case for our interconnectedness with each other. I felt so connected to and positive about my fellow planet dwellers when i had finished the book.
SCRIBBLING THE CAT- Alexandra Fuller. She wrote the earlier memoir, DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT which is a must read primer on growing up in Zimbabwe during the war and the years following Independance. SCRIBBLING THE CAT follows her journey around southern Africa with a former white soldier. It deals with Africa today in its harshest, cruelest light while at the same time talking about redemption, a love for the land and a respect for its history.
UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN - Jon Krakuer. I've wanted to read this book for awhile-- I love Krakaur's writting and Mormonism fascinates me, so it seemed to be a good fit. He looks at the roots of the Mormon faith, its flirtaions with extremism and fundamentalism (into present times) and addresses the place of the Church as a power broker. Great-- sent me on a bit of a Morman reading binge.
LADIES NUMBER ONE DETECTIVE AGENCY - Alexander MacCall Smith. Another Zimbabwean on the list! hmmm.. think I miss Africa much?? Gentle, humourous and fun... a tale of the first Botswanan lady detective using her intuition and knowledge of human behavior (which seems pretty universal). I look forwad to reading the rest of the series. I did try the first in his Isabel Dalhousie series and didn't love it as much. Maybe his gift is writing about Africa and its peoples...
A COOK'S TOUR- Anthony Bourdain. I love this man. Sure he's crazy and violent and hates vegetarians and rude. He smokes like a chimney, drinks like a fish, is a substance abuser of the first order, completly crass and most likely dirty. Nonetheless, I would follow him around the world for a perfect meal, but until that happens, I'll settle for reading about it (see also: KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL).
THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB- Karen Joy Fowler. I love Austen, love the idea of an Austenian book club and this is a perfect book. Others that I respect disagree with my love of this book- but I think the author does a wonderful job bringing the elements of the "real" world together with Austen's world. Her books are so true today as they ever were. The Author also has a collection of responses to Ms. Austen's books throughout time.
THE WAY THE CROW FLIES- Anne Marie MacDonald. I didn't take to Fall On Your Knees (I had an idea of what it was about and really didn't feel like "engaging" with it). Mirin, a woman i worked with at the Bone Centre, said that this book was one to read. So I tried it and wow! I couldn't stop. I stayed up at night reading it and just-- was overcome. A mystery, a coming of age story, a story about the choices we make, of family, redemption and love. Absolutely fantastic.
Other books...
- The Other Side of the Story- Marian Keyes. I love Marian Keyes but nothing will ever compare to her opus Rachel's Holiday
- Pandora- Jilly Cooper. A classic Jilly book...
- She's Come Undone-- Wally Lamb. I loved These Things I Know Are True- one of the most beautiful books ever. This one didn't do too much for me. But the woman in the bookstore said it had changed her life, so I had to try it.
- Fire Sale-- Sara Paretsky. I love VI Warshawski- she's tough and smart and politically aware. What's not to love? This is the most recent addition to this series which I've been reading for-- almost as long as I can remember. Her writing style always pulls me in.
It’s the habit of learning to love that’s the thing-- Jane Austen
BLOG ON: newest update
(read previous account first)
blah blah blah... bittercakes...
New temp job! Yours truly is a receptionist at an engineering/ architect firm for the next 2 weeks. I’m filling in for a really sweet woman who’s been here for 20 years and runs the place. She’s awesome: her name is Barb. Why do I always end up filling in for super nice people? It just makes me seem all the more evil in comparison. Working around all these engineers will be interesting… as I said to someone (and I should keep the mouth shut, damnit) “I already know all the engineering jokes”. Sigh. I’m working a switchboard— lots of incoming lines. So far, so good. I was a little shaky about the concept of paging but I think I’ve gotten the hang of it. Of course the downside is that I don't have access to much office supplies. My world for my weight in post it notes...
Everybody's nice. Turns out, one of the women is from Zambia. She married a Zimbabwean, lived in both Harare and Bulawayo and for years). She’s quite lovely, it was great to talk to someone about Africa. Another woman was an expat kid and grew up going to various international schools including ISI (the school I attended in ) from 1987 on (so I missed her by a year). We played the “do you know” game for awhile yesterday—such fun although it was weird to hear the words “Jason Wheatley” after all of this time. She brought in yearbooks. They are hilarious… we all look like babies! Of course we were babies...
It’s been interesting talking to someone about and (as she put it “the profound impact” it made on our lives.) She’s told me some horrific stuff that went on to people I know so I’m quite glad we left when we did. But it’s fun to look at old pictures and memories too.
Running is going well. Still really, REALLY tired, I don’t think I rested enough after the last marathon. The heat isn’t helping. And I’m old (I do feel very old): old and tired and heavy. My legs are just so tired. And I’m beginning to worry about my ankle a bit. It doesn’t hurt but I’m beginning to “feel” it while running. BUT it’s not as stiff as it was way back when. So, I’m training for the Toronto International but I am really wondering how wise this is. I don’t have insurance (and apparently there is no such thing as insurance in —c’mon guys, don’t make me miss QC) so physio seems out of the question. Gail (marathon group leader/ wise running woman extraordinaire) says I should try some ART (Active Release Therapy). So I may have to check that out.
Using the Whitlock Method (as in Ed Whitlock-- over 70 marathon record holder) I have my first race on Tuesday. It's a four miler in the Beaver Chase series-- yes there are T shirts! Claudia (my running buddy/ partner in crime/ competition) and I are going together. She's working the Whitlock method too-- she's pretty strong and she beat my heinie on Thursday (everyone beat my heinie-- fortunately there weren't a lot of people there...)
blah blah blah... bittercakes...
New temp job! Yours truly is a receptionist at an engineering/ architect firm for the next 2 weeks. I’m filling in for a really sweet woman who’s been here for 20 years and runs the place. She’s awesome: her name is Barb. Why do I always end up filling in for super nice people? It just makes me seem all the more evil in comparison. Working around all these engineers will be interesting… as I said to someone (and I should keep the mouth shut, damnit) “I already know all the engineering jokes”. Sigh. I’m working a switchboard— lots of incoming lines. So far, so good. I was a little shaky about the concept of paging but I think I’ve gotten the hang of it. Of course the downside is that I don't have access to much office supplies. My world for my weight in post it notes...
Everybody's nice. Turns out, one of the women is from Zambia. She married a Zimbabwean, lived in both Harare and Bulawayo and for years). She’s quite lovely, it was great to talk to someone about Africa. Another woman was an expat kid and grew up going to various international schools including ISI (the school I attended in ) from 1987 on (so I missed her by a year). We played the “do you know” game for awhile yesterday—such fun although it was weird to hear the words “Jason Wheatley” after all of this time. She brought in yearbooks. They are hilarious… we all look like babies! Of course we were babies...
It’s been interesting talking to someone about and (as she put it “the profound impact” it made on our lives.) She’s told me some horrific stuff that went on to people I know so I’m quite glad we left when we did. But it’s fun to look at old pictures and memories too.
Running is going well. Still really, REALLY tired, I don’t think I rested enough after the last marathon. The heat isn’t helping. And I’m old (I do feel very old): old and tired and heavy. My legs are just so tired. And I’m beginning to worry about my ankle a bit. It doesn’t hurt but I’m beginning to “feel” it while running. BUT it’s not as stiff as it was way back when. So, I’m training for the Toronto International but I am really wondering how wise this is. I don’t have insurance (and apparently there is no such thing as insurance in —c’mon guys, don’t make me miss QC) so physio seems out of the question. Gail (marathon group leader/ wise running woman extraordinaire) says I should try some ART (Active Release Therapy). So I may have to check that out.
Using the Whitlock Method (as in Ed Whitlock-- over 70 marathon record holder) I have my first race on Tuesday. It's a four miler in the Beaver Chase series-- yes there are T shirts! Claudia (my running buddy/ partner in crime/ competition) and I are going together. She's working the Whitlock method too-- she's pretty strong and she beat my heinie on Thursday (everyone beat my heinie-- fortunately there weren't a lot of people there...)
Moving in a Nutshell: When Not to Move & Boston 2005
MOVING in a NUTSHELL
Note to Self: never, NEVER move during a heat wave.
I once vowed, while traveling in India, that I would be careful about complaining about the heat because India in May? is freakin' hot! 50C in the shade- nightmare stuff. Of course that was before I moved to Ottawa with Michael in the middle of a heat wave.
I was an emotional wreck (I was tired and teary) and Michael was... chain smoking, overbearing and somewhat obnoxious. Oh! it went well. Now, moving sucks. Moving long distance sucks, especially after 3 years in a place and the unknown quantity of what one is moving into. Add in a heat wave, emotional instability, a small dog and Michael being a jackass? It turns into a circle of hell that Dante didn’t conceive of. I’m not sure what the punishment Dante would conceive such a move would be for – moving every1-3 years as a child and not fully appreciating one’s mother? Being a jerk when one’s parents take you around the world at an early age? Mom would get behind either of those, I think, she’d think it was appropriate. She’s got the punitive aspect of the Judeo Christian culture down to a T, our MS. J (it’s a gift, really... HI MOM!)
So- yeah. Michael's ass-dom didn't help either my move or my spirits. It was just so- intrusive, insensitive, and nasty-- definitely a bad sign of things to come. And he gets that self satisfied smirk when he’s being obnoxious and an ass that makes me want to hurt him. I ended up yelling, trying to get him to calm down and stop (for instance) sweeping all of my toiletries into a garbage bag and sticking them in the trunk of the car. I’m still missing the whale that Inneke Te Velde gave me for my 21 birthday. Just a nightmare. I felt so violated, scared and freaked out. It turns out my fears were well placed (more on that later).
Don't love the new place, but then I knew that coming in. Have tentatively unpacked some of my stuff (a few things in the kitchen, clothes I need for job interviews, Belle related items, toiletries and cleaning supplies) but really don't want to unpack a lot. Besides, this place is really dirty and has had no upkeep (the plaster falling from the ceiling in the closet where I had been keeping the cleaning supplies is a case in point). I've done the kitchen (as much as I can do- and to the point where I am comfortable putting plates and cans of food in the cupboards) and the bathroom (the horror! the horror!). My room got a much needed sweep and scrub. The windows are unbelievable, but I figure that the dirt is in lieu of curtains. Michael's not the tidiest of people. Now, I'm a cluttered person. My personal filing technique could be summed up by the word “pile” (although i do have moments of organization). Dishes may accumulate over a day or so. But I am clean. Dirt does not pile up like sand dunes in my room (although it is a constant battle against dog hair. sigh) But dirt? isn't fun. I'm on a full out dirt patrol around here. I think he believes cleaning is for other people.
BOSTON 2005
And I finally got to visit Boston. Max is adorable and it was great to visit with Joanne, Rob & Thor. We didn’t do much. I did get to visit the sacred site of the Boston Marathon finish line. And Joanne and I went to Newbury where we got a manicure. I chose the exact same colour as I did the last time I got a manicure-- pale pink. I am in such a beauty rut... It was funny to see men getting pedicures-- acting all detached and tough about it. What else? Ate well, had some yummy white wine (I love the wine... glad I can have a glass every once in awhile but also glad I don’t enjoy it too much... as will be discussed more in future posts). I also got to run my old route from Jamaica Plain into Harvard Square. I was like a puppy-- so excited and eager and smiling like a lunatic. Runners in Boston tend to be a little competitive. Not many smiles there. A couple of bystanders were encouraging though (it may have been the tight shorts). Running across the Smoot bridge, over the Charles and seeing the CITGO sign. Taking the T back into JP, crossing the Charles on the Salt and Pepper Bridge (I think that’s it-- I always forget their names). Sigh. I’ve missed Boston. I’m glad I didn’t go while I was living in Montreal. I’m not sure I would have been able to return. I don’t miss living in the US, but i miss Boston. I may try to get back there somehow. It was good to be back.
I’ve got to post this-- it’s so out of date, but I want some kind of record of the move from hell, the trip to Boston and y’know- JUNE and JULY 2005.
Lights will guide you home... and ignite your bones. And I will try to fix you.
Note to Self: never, NEVER move during a heat wave.
I once vowed, while traveling in India, that I would be careful about complaining about the heat because India in May? is freakin' hot! 50C in the shade- nightmare stuff. Of course that was before I moved to Ottawa with Michael in the middle of a heat wave.
I was an emotional wreck (I was tired and teary) and Michael was... chain smoking, overbearing and somewhat obnoxious. Oh! it went well. Now, moving sucks. Moving long distance sucks, especially after 3 years in a place and the unknown quantity of what one is moving into. Add in a heat wave, emotional instability, a small dog and Michael being a jackass? It turns into a circle of hell that Dante didn’t conceive of. I’m not sure what the punishment Dante would conceive such a move would be for – moving every1-3 years as a child and not fully appreciating one’s mother? Being a jerk when one’s parents take you around the world at an early age? Mom would get behind either of those, I think, she’d think it was appropriate. She’s got the punitive aspect of the Judeo Christian culture down to a T, our MS. J (it’s a gift, really... HI MOM!)
So- yeah. Michael's ass-dom didn't help either my move or my spirits. It was just so- intrusive, insensitive, and nasty-- definitely a bad sign of things to come. And he gets that self satisfied smirk when he’s being obnoxious and an ass that makes me want to hurt him. I ended up yelling, trying to get him to calm down and stop (for instance) sweeping all of my toiletries into a garbage bag and sticking them in the trunk of the car. I’m still missing the whale that Inneke Te Velde gave me for my 21 birthday. Just a nightmare. I felt so violated, scared and freaked out. It turns out my fears were well placed (more on that later).
Don't love the new place, but then I knew that coming in. Have tentatively unpacked some of my stuff (a few things in the kitchen, clothes I need for job interviews, Belle related items, toiletries and cleaning supplies) but really don't want to unpack a lot. Besides, this place is really dirty and has had no upkeep (the plaster falling from the ceiling in the closet where I had been keeping the cleaning supplies is a case in point). I've done the kitchen (as much as I can do- and to the point where I am comfortable putting plates and cans of food in the cupboards) and the bathroom (the horror! the horror!). My room got a much needed sweep and scrub. The windows are unbelievable, but I figure that the dirt is in lieu of curtains. Michael's not the tidiest of people. Now, I'm a cluttered person. My personal filing technique could be summed up by the word “pile” (although i do have moments of organization). Dishes may accumulate over a day or so. But I am clean. Dirt does not pile up like sand dunes in my room (although it is a constant battle against dog hair. sigh) But dirt? isn't fun. I'm on a full out dirt patrol around here. I think he believes cleaning is for other people.
BOSTON 2005
And I finally got to visit Boston. Max is adorable and it was great to visit with Joanne, Rob & Thor. We didn’t do much. I did get to visit the sacred site of the Boston Marathon finish line. And Joanne and I went to Newbury where we got a manicure. I chose the exact same colour as I did the last time I got a manicure-- pale pink. I am in such a beauty rut... It was funny to see men getting pedicures-- acting all detached and tough about it. What else? Ate well, had some yummy white wine (I love the wine... glad I can have a glass every once in awhile but also glad I don’t enjoy it too much... as will be discussed more in future posts). I also got to run my old route from Jamaica Plain into Harvard Square. I was like a puppy-- so excited and eager and smiling like a lunatic. Runners in Boston tend to be a little competitive. Not many smiles there. A couple of bystanders were encouraging though (it may have been the tight shorts). Running across the Smoot bridge, over the Charles and seeing the CITGO sign. Taking the T back into JP, crossing the Charles on the Salt and Pepper Bridge (I think that’s it-- I always forget their names). Sigh. I’ve missed Boston. I’m glad I didn’t go while I was living in Montreal. I’m not sure I would have been able to return. I don’t miss living in the US, but i miss Boston. I may try to get back there somehow. It was good to be back.
I’ve got to post this-- it’s so out of date, but I want some kind of record of the move from hell, the trip to Boston and y’know- JUNE and JULY 2005.
Lights will guide you home... and ignite your bones. And I will try to fix you.
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