The shoe problem that is actually not
Oct. 21st, 2007 03:55 pmI have a very pleasant problem to solve - what to spend a $100 for. I can buy something useful, but something useful is not something you want to spend your windfall money on, right? For something useful money are already put aside. So, I want to buy shoes, even though I don't need shoes, but need winter boots. And yet... I cannot decide, really. Help? ;)
I found a really nice ones. except they are black - as half of my shoe wardrobe. I think I should throw away half of my old shoe wardrobe.
I found a really nice ones. except they are black - as half of my shoe wardrobe. I think I should throw away half of my old shoe wardrobe.
Mostly sitting at home
Aug. 31st, 2007 11:38 am* My cleaning activities brought me to finally uploading some pictures to Flickr:
From this summer
And from our winter trip to Boston and New York
Somehow I still cannot find a comfortable mode for me to use Flickr. So I have to use different photohosting sites for different reasons... And it feels silly.
* In a laundry room there is a shelf with giveaway books and magazines. Last lime I found there Jane Eyre, which I immediately brought home and read some bits and pieces.
* Overall though, I cannot settle on any of the books I have now - so I am trying to read three books at once without much result.
* Still watching Buffy. Even have some actual thoughts. And some non-thoughts. My favourite potentials still Vi and Amanda for the greater dorkiness. And here is what Vi is doing now (which proves teh dorkiness that so close to me heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grCTXGW3sxQ)
* Does anyone know where
swmbo disappeared and how's she doing? I miss her. :(
From this summer
And from our winter trip to Boston and New York
Somehow I still cannot find a comfortable mode for me to use Flickr. So I have to use different photohosting sites for different reasons... And it feels silly.
* In a laundry room there is a shelf with giveaway books and magazines. Last lime I found there Jane Eyre, which I immediately brought home and read some bits and pieces.
* Overall though, I cannot settle on any of the books I have now - so I am trying to read three books at once without much result.
* Still watching Buffy. Even have some actual thoughts. And some non-thoughts. My favourite potentials still Vi and Amanda for the greater dorkiness. And here is what Vi is doing now (which proves teh dorkiness that so close to me heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grCTXGW3sxQ)
* Does anyone know where
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Why vampires make the best pets
Jul. 1st, 2007 09:34 pmI wasn't really planning to writing any essay, but as it often happens I was inspired by
molly_may and here it is. It is rather smallish but with pictures!
( So, why vampires make the best pets? )
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
( So, why vampires make the best pets? )
Once my husband and I were walking on a cemetery...
I never get to finish this phrase: some starting falling on the ground laughing, some are gasping, some are having a heart attack.
and I can never understand what's wrong with walking at cemeteries in general. I am not particularly morbid, and I am not searching for cemeteries to walk there, but seriously? Why not to walk there if it's close to home, quiet, beautiful, and provides a more pleasant walk to the supermarket than the busy street? But, you know, some people are even getting concerned about the baby... ::insert the eye roll::
Anyway, I walked at many cemeteries throughout my childhood, and I am still quite sane. :)
By the way, once my husband and I were walking on a cemetery and we saw a family of large animals (probably groundhogs) looking for food among the graves. They looked very amusing.
I never get to finish this phrase: some starting falling on the ground laughing, some are gasping, some are having a heart attack.
and I can never understand what's wrong with walking at cemeteries in general. I am not particularly morbid, and I am not searching for cemeteries to walk there, but seriously? Why not to walk there if it's close to home, quiet, beautiful, and provides a more pleasant walk to the supermarket than the busy street? But, you know, some people are even getting concerned about the baby... ::insert the eye roll::
Anyway, I walked at many cemeteries throughout my childhood, and I am still quite sane. :)
By the way, once my husband and I were walking on a cemetery and we saw a family of large animals (probably groundhogs) looking for food among the graves. They looked very amusing.
Ex Libris, by Anne Fadiman
May. 13th, 2007 08:28 pmIt is a rare pleasure to read a book and feel that you are having a conversation with its author. Such pleasure I've had reading Anne Fadiman's Ex Libris. It is a collection of essays on books and I felt an immediate affinity to the author from the very page, even if occasionally I violently disagreed with her.
Agreeing and disagreeing in each particular case is much less important than the feeling of belonging to the same nation of the book people and speaking the tongue in regards of the most important matters. ( Read more... )
Agreeing and disagreeing in each particular case is much less important than the feeling of belonging to the same nation of the book people and speaking the tongue in regards of the most important matters. ( Read more... )
Happy Buffy Anniversary!
Mar. 10th, 2007 08:37 pmIt is a joy to read my friends' list today: so many good memories, so many lovely posts!
Ten years ago I had a very different life, with no Buffy in it. Five years ago I started watching BtVS. What did it give me:
a) lots and lots of wasted time.
b) a huge jump in my English skills - BtVS was one thing that moved me to express my thoughts in English in writing and try be understood. ;)
c) It's much more difficult for me to read badly written books or watch bad tv shows. I've honed my critical skills, and now I just have to go for good stuff.
d)Lots of friends, without whom I don't want to imagine my life now. ::loves you::
I posted a review on a book I've just finished: Not about Buffy, but with a definite connection to it
Ten years ago I had a very different life, with no Buffy in it. Five years ago I started watching BtVS. What did it give me:
a) lots and lots of wasted time.
b) a huge jump in my English skills - BtVS was one thing that moved me to express my thoughts in English in writing and try be understood. ;)
c) It's much more difficult for me to read badly written books or watch bad tv shows. I've honed my critical skills, and now I just have to go for good stuff.
d)Lots of friends, without whom I don't want to imagine my life now. ::loves you::
I posted a review on a book I've just finished: Not about Buffy, but with a definite connection to it
Girl's night in
Dec. 1st, 2006 10:54 pmI've got my spam from Dadaism Parishioner today. Hmmm, are there any dadaism parishes over there? anyone knows? anyone lives there and can tell?
Anyway, husband is away in Montreal, and I am all by myself, feeling very good.
- reading Vernon Vinge
- drinking red wine
- killing Horde (World of Warcraft thingy)
- watching young Peter O'Toole on DVD
Friday evening is a good thing to have. ;)
And by the time I start missing husband, he'll be back, and we'll do all those things together (except for O'Toole watching).
Anyway, husband is away in Montreal, and I am all by myself, feeling very good.
- reading Vernon Vinge
- drinking red wine
- killing Horde (World of Warcraft thingy)
- watching young Peter O'Toole on DVD
Friday evening is a good thing to have. ;)
And by the time I start missing husband, he'll be back, and we'll do all those things together (except for O'Toole watching).
Or not.
It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted here last. Sorry about that. I was nether to busy nor too angsty to post, I just… was lazy, I guess.
The life is going on and some stuff is happening, but it’s not too distracting, really – so far. I keep making LJ posts in my head, but by now I hardly remember what I wanted to say. Probably nothing of importance.
The spring is gone, and I am looking into the summer that greets me with the wicked heat. I was looking forward to summer, but now I am not that sure. Where is the nice mild weather? Or yes, not there. Anyway, watching the spring jumping over Toronto in May was a treat to eyes - I love all the May blossoming – tulips and daffodils, lilac and chestnuts… I wouldn’t mind it kept like for longer that one month. Except that last week I caught some nasty cold or something and was hiding at home and playing dead at work.
By now it almost disappeared. But during the “hiding at home phase I found an interesting place –
76_82 - Russian Lj community about our childhood – our generation’s weird childhood. It’s not blithely nostalgic –“look how good everything was” – it’s more of collecting the memories of that strange time – things, customs, rules of the games we played, movies and books, our fantasies and perceptions. Or course, for many the childhood was good just because it was childhood, never mind that we didn’t have a lot of things we can’t live without now.
What else I was wasting my time on:
1) Playing World of the Warcraft (too often)
2) Playing golf (twice)
3) Walking around
4) Reading
5) Watching movies and (occasionally) TV
6) seeing friends
7) thinking about Writercon a lot
It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted here last. Sorry about that. I was nether to busy nor too angsty to post, I just… was lazy, I guess.
The life is going on and some stuff is happening, but it’s not too distracting, really – so far. I keep making LJ posts in my head, but by now I hardly remember what I wanted to say. Probably nothing of importance.
The spring is gone, and I am looking into the summer that greets me with the wicked heat. I was looking forward to summer, but now I am not that sure. Where is the nice mild weather? Or yes, not there. Anyway, watching the spring jumping over Toronto in May was a treat to eyes - I love all the May blossoming – tulips and daffodils, lilac and chestnuts… I wouldn’t mind it kept like for longer that one month. Except that last week I caught some nasty cold or something and was hiding at home and playing dead at work.
By now it almost disappeared. But during the “hiding at home phase I found an interesting place –
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
What else I was wasting my time on:
1) Playing World of the Warcraft (too often)
2) Playing golf (twice)
3) Walking around
4) Reading
5) Watching movies and (occasionally) TV
6) seeing friends
7) thinking about Writercon a lot
Peace! Labour! May!
May. 1st, 2006 05:29 pmHappy International Labour Day! - to those who care about such things ;)
I've changed my LJ name to a Russian phrase that will take an hour to explain. But I wanted to have it, so it will stay for a while. Pity that the best jokes cannot be properly translated...
Every time I met with the first day of any new month, my first thought: Hmmm, Where did the previous month go? I guess I am not that bright. ;-p
and finally, meme:
If there is someone on your friends list who makes your world a better place just because they exist and who you would not have met (in real life or not) without the Internet, then post this same sentence in your journal.
Because you, guys, like, totally rule!
I've changed my LJ name to a Russian phrase that will take an hour to explain. But I wanted to have it, so it will stay for a while. Pity that the best jokes cannot be properly translated...
Every time I met with the first day of any new month, my first thought: Hmmm, Where did the previous month go? I guess I am not that bright. ;-p
and finally, meme:
If there is someone on your friends list who makes your world a better place just because they exist and who you would not have met (in real life or not) without the Internet, then post this same sentence in your journal.
Because you, guys, like, totally rule!
Robin Hood et al
Jan. 6th, 2006 11:38 pmI keep trying to write something important marking the year that passed – but then I would to think about it, and this is something that just doesn’t work for me right now.
So instead I think about Robin Hood. I was reading Robin McKinley’s Sherwood Outlaws and started thinking what the legend means to me.
I cannot get into the book – even though I like the characters (this incarnations of them) and the writing, they seem to be behind a glass wall that I cannot break, and don’t want to. I cannot start to care – and this feels to be of crucial importance in fiction for me lately. I don’t have to like everybody and everything in a book, but at least something must pull me into – even if it is a description of a sea, or beautiful style, or fancy ideas. Here it was nothing of the sort, and the only thing that elicit emotions was the marginalia on a page splattered with something brownish: “It is blood. Don’t lick it”.
I thought that may be the case is in the legend itself? That I grew disenchanted with Robin Hood and his merry band? I used to love the story and its heroes and heroines. Somewhere in the back of my mind I was always sure about the continuous existence of Robin Hood, Marion, Little John, Will Scarlet, Friar Tuck, Sheriff of Nottingham, Guy of Gizborne and others in the Sherwood forest and around. They add something to the world, some important tiny bit.
Why not to read a novel about them? I cannot say that the interpretation is too contrary to what I imagine – or any other interpretation, because I just don’t really imagine them at all. I have a vague picture that changes when I change or when my mood change. Robin can be young or grown man, blonde or black-haired, bearded or not, asshole or sweetie or both, of gentle birth or of common, just a robber or an idealist – none of it ever sit in stone. Same with Marion (though I like her more when she is not a damsel in distress) and everyone else. I probably have a more definite image of Friar Tuck – he is short and round, good with his staff, optimistic, and the only monastic vow he takes seriously is the one of poverty.
But maybe that was the reason – I prefer my vague image to the detailed and rooted in the time and place version. Plus I always get annoyed when Richard the Lionheart came and resolved the matter. Because he would never do that. But I got even more annoyed when he took all the band with him to Holy Land – even though he might do that, he really needed more troops, and his only reason to be in England was to get some (and get money). But Robin Hood cannot be outside of England! There mere idea of it destroys the Universe as we know it. Well, it can be before the story- but not after.
I remember the old British TV series about Robin Hood. I really loved it when I watched it as a child. The best bit was at the end, when Marion died – and there were some magical trees or fairies or whatnot, and she came back. It was very mysterious and cool. (When I caught this series on TV much later, it seemed just stupid, and I couldn’t remember what was cool there.)
( So I designed a poll about Robin Hood – and your image of the legend. )
So instead I think about Robin Hood. I was reading Robin McKinley’s Sherwood Outlaws and started thinking what the legend means to me.
I cannot get into the book – even though I like the characters (this incarnations of them) and the writing, they seem to be behind a glass wall that I cannot break, and don’t want to. I cannot start to care – and this feels to be of crucial importance in fiction for me lately. I don’t have to like everybody and everything in a book, but at least something must pull me into – even if it is a description of a sea, or beautiful style, or fancy ideas. Here it was nothing of the sort, and the only thing that elicit emotions was the marginalia on a page splattered with something brownish: “It is blood. Don’t lick it”.
I thought that may be the case is in the legend itself? That I grew disenchanted with Robin Hood and his merry band? I used to love the story and its heroes and heroines. Somewhere in the back of my mind I was always sure about the continuous existence of Robin Hood, Marion, Little John, Will Scarlet, Friar Tuck, Sheriff of Nottingham, Guy of Gizborne and others in the Sherwood forest and around. They add something to the world, some important tiny bit.
Why not to read a novel about them? I cannot say that the interpretation is too contrary to what I imagine – or any other interpretation, because I just don’t really imagine them at all. I have a vague picture that changes when I change or when my mood change. Robin can be young or grown man, blonde or black-haired, bearded or not, asshole or sweetie or both, of gentle birth or of common, just a robber or an idealist – none of it ever sit in stone. Same with Marion (though I like her more when she is not a damsel in distress) and everyone else. I probably have a more definite image of Friar Tuck – he is short and round, good with his staff, optimistic, and the only monastic vow he takes seriously is the one of poverty.
But maybe that was the reason – I prefer my vague image to the detailed and rooted in the time and place version. Plus I always get annoyed when Richard the Lionheart came and resolved the matter. Because he would never do that. But I got even more annoyed when he took all the band with him to Holy Land – even though he might do that, he really needed more troops, and his only reason to be in England was to get some (and get money). But Robin Hood cannot be outside of England! There mere idea of it destroys the Universe as we know it. Well, it can be before the story- but not after.
I remember the old British TV series about Robin Hood. I really loved it when I watched it as a child. The best bit was at the end, when Marion died – and there were some magical trees or fairies or whatnot, and she came back. It was very mysterious and cool. (When I caught this series on TV much later, it seemed just stupid, and I couldn’t remember what was cool there.)
( So I designed a poll about Robin Hood – and your image of the legend. )
This week and Geogette Heyer
Jul. 14th, 2005 04:57 pmI don’t get lost. Not for long, anyway. I always can find my way in a city, and I try not to go too deep in the wilderness. However, occasionally, I manage to get into silliest problems – as the one on Tuesday, when I lost a whole street.
I was going to see a friend after my classes – it was late, I was tired, but finding my friend’s place was not supposed to be a problem: I’ve been there before, and her building is very easy to find from the closest major intersection. I only needed to go along St. Clair avenue until Avenue Road, and then turn north. Easy? I would be, if I didn’t lose the Avenue road. I didn’t just miss it, I lost it completely. The was St. Clair Avenue, but no intersection with Avenue road whatsoever. Until it appeared before me and mocked me and my orienting skills.
Yesterday, during the lunch, I picked up some bits of conversation between ladies in their fifth or sixth youth. First they were discussing Trudeau’s funeral, then they went on to Winston Churchill:
- Do you love Winston Churchill?
-(slightly indignant) Of course I do! What’s not to love?
I am easily amused.
I decided to stop my Georgette Heyer books’ marathon. For couple of months – to get some change and then come back with fresh head. I had a great time reading her, but right now, after finishing Frederica and eyeing Unknown Ajax, I realised that I need a break.
( So here I recap some of the impressions of this marathon )
It's hot... Can we stop with the +35 C now? I wouldn't mind +15 even
I was going to see a friend after my classes – it was late, I was tired, but finding my friend’s place was not supposed to be a problem: I’ve been there before, and her building is very easy to find from the closest major intersection. I only needed to go along St. Clair avenue until Avenue Road, and then turn north. Easy? I would be, if I didn’t lose the Avenue road. I didn’t just miss it, I lost it completely. The was St. Clair Avenue, but no intersection with Avenue road whatsoever. Until it appeared before me and mocked me and my orienting skills.
Yesterday, during the lunch, I picked up some bits of conversation between ladies in their fifth or sixth youth. First they were discussing Trudeau’s funeral, then they went on to Winston Churchill:
- Do you love Winston Churchill?
-(slightly indignant) Of course I do! What’s not to love?
I am easily amused.
I decided to stop my Georgette Heyer books’ marathon. For couple of months – to get some change and then come back with fresh head. I had a great time reading her, but right now, after finishing Frederica and eyeing Unknown Ajax, I realised that I need a break.
( So here I recap some of the impressions of this marathon )
It's hot... Can we stop with the +35 C now? I wouldn't mind +15 even
Life in November
Nov. 16th, 2004 08:47 pmThe weather is nice, and so is life right now. I am sitting at home and watching naked Clark Kent on TV being tortured by evil girls in black leather. As far as I am concerned, this visual is the main point of the story.
The least probable question one can reasonably expect to hear from the guard at the US Consulate who is searching through one’s bag:
So, what do you think about the character of Jane?
(Jane in question is Jane Brailsford, from Caroline Stevermere’s The Scholar of Magics, the book I had with me.)
I had the most pleasant visit to US Consulate this morning. Surprise, surprise. And tomorrow I hope to have the visa!
What else to tell you?
I've always fascinated by time. "Big-time" time – astronomical and
geological, and the historical time, seemingly tamed by people. I used
to close my eyes and try to imagine the Universe - young, the stars I
can see – newly born, something that was before so long ago, that no
can really comprehend that distance.
I used to stand before dioramas in a geological museum, trying to
connect the Earth that is now with the Earth that was, with strange
continents that nobody put on map, where there was a deep sea in the
place where Moscow is now…
I used to look at the pictures of ruins, trying to imagine people that
build them, and how they lived, and how they thought. I felt history
and time as something tangible, alive in its own right, and
perpetually amazing. I remember the first time I saw a mummy of some
unfortunate Egyptian priest in a museum. I was ten, and he was dead
for more than four thousand years. I was standing for several minutes,
imagining his man alive, old, young, thinking about his future.
Whatever his ideas about after death were I was sure they didn't
include lying in the glass box four thousand years since, and me
staring at him.
For all my fascination with time I still haven't managed to use it properly.
The least probable question one can reasonably expect to hear from the guard at the US Consulate who is searching through one’s bag:
So, what do you think about the character of Jane?
(Jane in question is Jane Brailsford, from Caroline Stevermere’s The Scholar of Magics, the book I had with me.)
I had the most pleasant visit to US Consulate this morning. Surprise, surprise. And tomorrow I hope to have the visa!
What else to tell you?
I've always fascinated by time. "Big-time" time – astronomical and
geological, and the historical time, seemingly tamed by people. I used
to close my eyes and try to imagine the Universe - young, the stars I
can see – newly born, something that was before so long ago, that no
can really comprehend that distance.
I used to stand before dioramas in a geological museum, trying to
connect the Earth that is now with the Earth that was, with strange
continents that nobody put on map, where there was a deep sea in the
place where Moscow is now…
I used to look at the pictures of ruins, trying to imagine people that
build them, and how they lived, and how they thought. I felt history
and time as something tangible, alive in its own right, and
perpetually amazing. I remember the first time I saw a mummy of some
unfortunate Egyptian priest in a museum. I was ten, and he was dead
for more than four thousand years. I was standing for several minutes,
imagining his man alive, old, young, thinking about his future.
Whatever his ideas about after death were I was sure they didn't
include lying in the glass box four thousand years since, and me
staring at him.
For all my fascination with time I still haven't managed to use it properly.
Socrates was a rather smart man.
Nov. 9th, 2004 10:36 pmHe said once (as the legend goes): “I know only that I know nothing.”
Well, he said it in Greek, so it sounded differently, and I’ve heard it in Russian first, so it may look different from what you’ve heard, and maybe he didn’t say it at all, just looked as if he was going to say it any time soon.
But then, you know, was executed by democratic Athens.
Anyway, I came to a conclusion, that it is the truest thing I can say for myself. I am not going to be in every philosophy textbook for that, but the hell with it, I would prefer to be it a literature textbook.
When I was a child I thought it was stupid (Socrates’ thing) – I knew a lot. I knew about Socrates even. When I was a teenager I thought I was very intelligent and educated: I was studying Socrates, Plato and other really ancient guys. I knew a lot if stuff. I still do.
Yet… It came to my attention how much I don’t know and don’t understand. About everything – but I meet people, and often I can’t remember anything about their country beside the fact that it exists. But even when I can…
Things in Canada surprise me every now and then. But, well, I knew next to nothing about it before I came here. I knew way more about USA. It always loomed around in the consciousness – best foe, best friend, everything capitalistic and good, or capitalistic and bad – we studied its history in the history class, its Constitution in the political science class, etc. I knew a lot about USA.
Then I realized how little I knew.
And those last days – here is what prompted this post – I learned a huge, mammoth-like huge stuff about USA and people that live there, and I realize that I really know nothing about it, and probably never will.
Moreover, when I look back to me beloved Russia, I understand that I know nothing about it, too: I have some ideas and some facts, and some conclusions, but, really I know nothing about Russia, too. (which I was told – you are from Moscow, Moscow is not Russia)
So, the more I live, the more I learn, the less I actually know.
Is it the road to wisdom or senility?
Well, he said it in Greek, so it sounded differently, and I’ve heard it in Russian first, so it may look different from what you’ve heard, and maybe he didn’t say it at all, just looked as if he was going to say it any time soon.
But then, you know, was executed by democratic Athens.
Anyway, I came to a conclusion, that it is the truest thing I can say for myself. I am not going to be in every philosophy textbook for that, but the hell with it, I would prefer to be it a literature textbook.
When I was a child I thought it was stupid (Socrates’ thing) – I knew a lot. I knew about Socrates even. When I was a teenager I thought I was very intelligent and educated: I was studying Socrates, Plato and other really ancient guys. I knew a lot if stuff. I still do.
Yet… It came to my attention how much I don’t know and don’t understand. About everything – but I meet people, and often I can’t remember anything about their country beside the fact that it exists. But even when I can…
Things in Canada surprise me every now and then. But, well, I knew next to nothing about it before I came here. I knew way more about USA. It always loomed around in the consciousness – best foe, best friend, everything capitalistic and good, or capitalistic and bad – we studied its history in the history class, its Constitution in the political science class, etc. I knew a lot about USA.
Then I realized how little I knew.
And those last days – here is what prompted this post – I learned a huge, mammoth-like huge stuff about USA and people that live there, and I realize that I really know nothing about it, and probably never will.
Moreover, when I look back to me beloved Russia, I understand that I know nothing about it, too: I have some ideas and some facts, and some conclusions, but, really I know nothing about Russia, too. (which I was told – you are from Moscow, Moscow is not Russia)
So, the more I live, the more I learn, the less I actually know.
Is it the road to wisdom or senility?
Bits and pieces
Oct. 22nd, 2004 10:45 amRead in the today’s trash newspaper (Metro) from the movie review Stage Beauty:
"She" was Margaret Hughes, and "he" was Edward Kynaston, two 17th-century actors famous for performing Desdemona in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, among others.
??? Even I would be famous if I performed Desdemona in Hamlet.
::is trying to imagine the performance::
People seen: a girl wearing
- pale pink crocheted hat
- fuzzy multicoloured scarf
- velvet jacket with faux-fur collar and flowery embroidery
- yellow+green skirt
- multicoloured purse
The amazing thing is that she really looked nice and not ridiculous in all that. I couldn’t pull it off like that. One of the things I love about Toronto is that no matter what you are wearing, you are not looking out of place on the street.
I found really cool blog: http://www.glosses.net/
"She" was Margaret Hughes, and "he" was Edward Kynaston, two 17th-century actors famous for performing Desdemona in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, among others.
??? Even I would be famous if I performed Desdemona in Hamlet.
::is trying to imagine the performance::
People seen: a girl wearing
- pale pink crocheted hat
- fuzzy multicoloured scarf
- velvet jacket with faux-fur collar and flowery embroidery
- yellow+green skirt
- multicoloured purse
The amazing thing is that she really looked nice and not ridiculous in all that. I couldn’t pull it off like that. One of the things I love about Toronto is that no matter what you are wearing, you are not looking out of place on the street.
I found really cool blog: http://www.glosses.net/
Chance encounters
Oct. 3rd, 2004 06:18 pmI love chance encounters – you meet people, share some bits of lives, have meaningful conversations, and then part your ways, possibly forever. I love making friends more, but there is a certain delight of having the small part of mosaic that makes up a person’s life.
Some guy I talked at a bus stop; a shoe master, repairing a heel on my friend’s shoe and talking about the purpose of the Universe while we were waiting; a lady from Ethiopia whose life was a reenactment of “Romeo and Juliet”, only with happier ending; a guy in RV who offered us hot coffee when we really needed it.
Yesterday it was a lady from Liverpool. We were going to see a friend – old for my husband, unknown yet for me. And we were to use GO train in the first time. We bought the tickets at the Union station, and were wondering at the customer service what should we do with them to get to Port Credit. At this moment this lady appeared (she overheard us), and said that she was going to Port Credit and would take us with her so we wouldn’t get lost. She brought us to the platform and into the train. Along the way we talked about Canada – in general, Ontario and BC, climate. We said that we are from Russia, she said she is from Liverpool; we said “Oh”; she said “Yes.” She elaborated that she did, indeed knew Beatles before they were famous and danced when they played in clubs. “Probably I should have grabbed one for myself when I could,” she mused, but then shrugged it off and said that she was quite happy to live in Canada since 1966, and having all her children and grandchildren here. We talked about working in a law firm, books, knitting (she was crocheting a fuzzy scarf in violet colours), and other stuff. Then we were at Port Credit, where her husband was waiting for her in a pickup truck. They decided that we would get lost unless they give us a lift, stuffed us in a truck, dropped us at our friend’s door, and disappeared.
Some guy I talked at a bus stop; a shoe master, repairing a heel on my friend’s shoe and talking about the purpose of the Universe while we were waiting; a lady from Ethiopia whose life was a reenactment of “Romeo and Juliet”, only with happier ending; a guy in RV who offered us hot coffee when we really needed it.
Yesterday it was a lady from Liverpool. We were going to see a friend – old for my husband, unknown yet for me. And we were to use GO train in the first time. We bought the tickets at the Union station, and were wondering at the customer service what should we do with them to get to Port Credit. At this moment this lady appeared (she overheard us), and said that she was going to Port Credit and would take us with her so we wouldn’t get lost. She brought us to the platform and into the train. Along the way we talked about Canada – in general, Ontario and BC, climate. We said that we are from Russia, she said she is from Liverpool; we said “Oh”; she said “Yes.” She elaborated that she did, indeed knew Beatles before they were famous and danced when they played in clubs. “Probably I should have grabbed one for myself when I could,” she mused, but then shrugged it off and said that she was quite happy to live in Canada since 1966, and having all her children and grandchildren here. We talked about working in a law firm, books, knitting (she was crocheting a fuzzy scarf in violet colours), and other stuff. Then we were at Port Credit, where her husband was waiting for her in a pickup truck. They decided that we would get lost unless they give us a lift, stuffed us in a truck, dropped us at our friend’s door, and disappeared.
(no subject)
Aug. 18th, 2004 02:52 pmI returned from the interview, and sitting here trying to compose a nice and gracious thank you letter. I am trying to do something to increase my chances of getting this job. Can I sacrifice some goats? After long enough time of unemployment a confident professional (can you believe I was one once upon a time?) starts to doubt seriously why anyone would ire me.
People seen today (employment unrelated):
- a mounted Mountie
- a cute snuggly Muslim couple
- a pharmacist who is, probably, a lost twin of the head of the Rome office of W&H (Ilona?) – well, slightly less flamboyant and not evil, but the way she talks – intonations, accent, gestures…
People seen today (employment unrelated):
- a mounted Mountie
- a cute snuggly Muslim couple
- a pharmacist who is, probably, a lost twin of the head of the Rome office of W&H (Ilona?) – well, slightly less flamboyant and not evil, but the way she talks – intonations, accent, gestures…
more words that nobody wants to know
Feb. 24th, 2004 02:18 pmCantabank – second-rate singer of ballads
Dammarel – an effeminate man who spends all his time entertaining or courting women, and who is disinclined to the company of his own sex
Demivierge –a woman who is sexually promiscuous but retains her virginity
Dongon – a person who is smart but appears stupid
Dunderwhelp – a detestable numbskull
Dammarel – an effeminate man who spends all his time entertaining or courting women, and who is disinclined to the company of his own sex
Demivierge –a woman who is sexually promiscuous but retains her virginity
Dongon – a person who is smart but appears stupid
Dunderwhelp – a detestable numbskull
Words accidentally found
Feb. 23rd, 2004 07:37 pmStudying English is fun. Sometimes. Again I found a bunch of words to show off.
Behold:
Alothen – to grow disgusting
Amplexus – a mating embrace of a toad or frog
Anaxiphilia – the act of falling in love with the wrong person
Baratress – a female quarreller
Bdelloid – resembling a leech
Cacozelot – an evil zealot
Callomaniac – a person under the delusion that he or she is beautiful
Circumstantiality – an inability to separate important from unimportant details when telling a story
Cockalorum – a self-important little man
Some more may be later. ::goes to memorize new words::
Behold:
Alothen – to grow disgusting
Amplexus – a mating embrace of a toad or frog
Anaxiphilia – the act of falling in love with the wrong person
Baratress – a female quarreller
Bdelloid – resembling a leech
Cacozelot – an evil zealot
Callomaniac – a person under the delusion that he or she is beautiful
Circumstantiality – an inability to separate important from unimportant details when telling a story
Cockalorum – a self-important little man
Some more may be later. ::goes to memorize new words::