Proper Tension

See a Little Light? Well, maybe just a little.

2012-01-31T11:48:00.001-05:00

In the last few weeks, I've managed to actually read a couple of books, which has always seemed like an impossibility when school is in session. I'm hoping I can maintain the momentum as the semester goes on. We'll see what happens when all the papers start coming in.

See a Little Light by Bob Mould with Michael Azzerad was the first book I read this year. Hüsker Dü has always been one of my favourite hardcore bands, and I was excited to read Mould's (a primary member of the trio) memoir. Hüsker Dü definitely expanded the range of music to be found in the punk scene of the '80s, and the fact that Mould is now an out gay man added another dimension of interest.

One of the great things about the memoir is the look into the band-side of the scene. I know what it was like on my end - the shows, the community, the politics, etc. - but I had no idea what it was like to be in a band at that time. To that end, the memoir did not disappoint.

However, what really annoyed (almost to the point of being infuriated at times) was how the memoir almost totally sidestepped any real self-investigation. Mould constantly does what I call a 'hit-and-run' where he reveals an emotion or anxiety or doubt but never goes beyond simple statements like "I was an asshole" (not a direct quote; have given the book back to its owner). He claims to be laying himself bare but actually constantly avoids any real digging into his motivations, fears, or psychology.

For example, you grow up in a dysfunctional household where your father torments the rest of the family, but you're the golden boy and you don't stop to consider all the ramifications of that? Acknowledging it is only half the battle; understanding its implications on your life and revealing how it affected you is part of what I see as the mandate of memoir/creative nonfiction. I was surprised that he didn't really communicate any feelings of culpability or guilt around this.

He dismisses, mocks, or downright hates his previous bandmates, but we never get a full sense of why. This happens throughout the book. Eight months of therapy was definitely not enough, and I wonder whether the patterns he established in his relationships (both romantic and not) are just going to continue but be explained away with a "that's just how it was." His coming out and exploration of the gay community was interesting and surprising because, while not always queer-positive, the hardcore community in many ways was about being true to who you are in the face of mainstream opposition. While I could go on, these examples highlight some of the main content issues I had.

The other thing that bugged me is that there are constant grammatical issues throughout. Yes, we all make mistakes, but we don't all have editors. Why are we in some past incident, written in the past tense, when suddenly there's a present tense sentence thrown in the middle of that paragraph that's still in the past?! Trying to communicate urgency? There are grammatically correct ways to do that. And yes, I was frequently appalled (yes, appalled) by the comma usage throughout. Sometimes teaching grammar is not a helpful thing.

I'm glad I read it, but I don't know that I understand Bob Mould in a more meaningful way now after reading the book, and that's one thing that I believe memoirs should do.

Stuff I'd Wanted to Blog About But Didn't

2012-01-29T12:58:00.000-05:00

I've been playing with the camera my ladyfriend bought me for Christmas with the intention of blogging about a variety of things like fashion, crafting, and my friends. Somehow, I just never got to it, so here's a new category - what I'd intended to blog about. Think of it as an (highly) edited abstract of what's been going on.

What I Wore to Teach on my second day of classes:
Love the action shot!

But seriously.

Top & Dress: Gail Berry

Knitting!

Alpaca hand-dyed by Janine Stewart - Give it a Whorl

Celine's birthday! (day before celebration)

Celine and Emma

Emma

Okay, now I can go onto new posts.

Something to Crow About

2012-01-14T14:01:00.000-05:00

Photo by Liss Platt

There's almost nothing better than when someone you love gets credit for their work, and when the credit is glowing, it's nothing short of transcendent (at least for me). Please join me in congratulating my ladyfriend, Liss Platt, whose current show at MKG127 in Toronto received an amazing review from RM Vaughan in today's Globe and Mail.

Shoe of the Week: Where's the Fire?

2012-01-09T21:41:00.000-05:00

Prada

I can feel the heat from here.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Authority Figure?

2012-01-09T10:50:00.000-05:00

Thought maybe I'd exude authority on the first day of class although in this photo, I'm just laughing. I'm also holding onto the plant so I don't get blown away.

Dress: RM
Shoes: Alexandra Neel

The Marble Game

2012-01-03T17:16:00.000-05:00

Image from Layoutsparks.com

Happy New Year!

I lost interest in making "resolutions" a couple of years back. Maybe it was because it just turned into a giant, impossible to-do list that almost always seemed insurmountable. (One of my middle names is "I'm-nothing-if-not-ambitious.") Anyway, this year, instead of listing things I want or need to do, I'm adopting a theme: energy. Simply put, it's about evaluating the amount of energy I put into something or someone based on what I can honestly expect back from it/them. It's not some kind of one-to-one ratio or cold self-interested analysis, but more of a reality check. If you can't make time for me, why am I chasing you around? If I'm not excited by what I'm doing or learning or don't have time to enjoy it, why am I doing it? It's gotten a little masochistic over the last few years.

Maybe you've noticed - I have a tendency to have many different things going on at the same time. I suppose we all do, but last year it damned near killed me/caused a nervous breakdown. This year I'm seeking sanity and some room to breathe. In order to facilitate this, I'm adopting a new strategy; I have five marbles that represent different extracurricular activities I can engage in simultaneously, and when I've committed to something (say, swim lessons), that marble is out of commission until the commitment has ended. When there are no more marbles available, I cannot take on another activity. (This excludes work and writing.)

It was hard to come up with the number of marbles, and I keep wondering how long it will be before I try to justify adding a new marble (already I have four marbles spoken for). But it's time for drastic measures. In the end, I think it will actually allow me to enjoy my life and my friends more, and isn't that what we hope for in the new year?

Sometimes It Lands the Way You Want it To

2011-12-22T19:42:00.001-05:00

There are two parts to this story, but they both involve the same person/same blog: Kate Davies of Needled - a favourite blog of mine.

Last year I sent a "get well soon card" to Kate who had recently suffered a stroke. I was, and still am, moved by her struggle and how well she seems to manage. I'm such a crank that I'm sure I'd alienate all but those with the strongest intestinal fortitude. I'm sure Kate has her days, but she actually communicates her struggles (rather than internalizes them as yours truly would do).

Checking in with her blog, I saw that she'd archived the correspondence she's received, and I found the card I sent her.* Yes, I'm a dork (what?); it was so gratifying to know that my card actually got to her. Snail mail still has its merits.

The second part is related to yesterday's covetable dress. I found out about Cabbages & Roses from her blog; she'd interviewed their designer as she is often asked about her wardrobe (much of which is Cabbages & Roses) so I went to their website where I fell in love with the red wool dress, which - by the way - is on its way to me (via a friend) right now (yay!).**

Visit her blog, buy her patterns, make something covetable.

*Thanks to my mother-in-law who I believe gave me those cards.
**Quite the compound/complex sentence. I wonder if I'd let my students get away with that one.

Just When I'd Thought I Might Be Over It

2011-12-21T12:05:00.000-05:00

I fall in love with a new dress.

However, it may be unrequited love (not the first, nor the last) because Cabbages & Roses (the company) doesn't seem to ship to Canada (hey, we're a former colony!) or the United States (ditto but we've managed to ditch the Queen (please see Canadian currency) as well). Yes, I have sent a somewhat plaintive and amusing message to them. We'll see whether this cheery, cherry red wool dress will cross the pond.

Three Pigs and a Cow

2011-12-21T10:47:00.000-05:00

walk into a bar...

Not really. There were three organic pigs and a cow (carcasses, mind you) at the sausage making weekend I got to participate in a couple of weekends ago. I missed the first day where they broke down the cow (not used for sausage) and only got a few hours in on Saturday when we were cutting away all the meat from the pigs. However, I did learn, on the last day, how to twist sausages. Next year I just plan on living with the hosts so I can be there for every single minute of it.

I have to say, it was a great experience. Even though I wasn't there for the whole thing, I learned a lot. (Of course whether I retain this info is up for debate.) But I also got to take part in a great moment of community. I entered the weekend just wanting to learn what goes into the process as well as to "meet my meat," so to say. I was there to help the primaries (the three guys, including the farmer whose animals we were using, who do this every year) put up their sausages and salamis (okay, that sounds like a sexual innuendo, which is totally unintentional but amusing considering the source). Not only did I get to meet new people (I'm learning that Hamilton and its environs has some very cool characters), but they shared some of the results of the weekend with me. Seriously, I was not expecting my own little portion.

One of the hosts said that the weekend felt like what the holidays should be about, and I have to say, I couldn't agree more.

We worked in the garage. It kept both the meat and us cold.

Working on a side of beef.

I hadn't arrived yet so I have no idea what that guy (whose name I don't recall) is looking at, but look! there's salami on the table.

I just love this photo because it's got both glamour and pork. What more could you ask for? Oh yeah, the pig's feet - they all came home with me. Yay! I'm going to make trotter gear and The Breslin Pig's Foot - a kind of pig's foot sausage, which I believe was inspired by musette, a sausage that I got to sample at dinner on Sunday night. Oh my beautiful musette.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

2011-12-15T12:43:00.000-05:00

The good: making progress; getting out of the deep, deep abyss that's sucked me up for the past month or so
The bad: still grading; the house is a mess; scampering to be ready for the holidays
The ugly: answering the door at 12:40pm still in my pajamas and robe because I haven't stopped working since I woke up

More Than One Happy

2011-11-06T17:42:00.000-05:00

Happy Anniversary to Proper Tension; Happy Birthday to me; and happy, happy to everyone out there.

That's all. Just happy, happy.

I Did It

2011-11-05T10:28:00.000-04:00

I closed two of my accounts at a major international bank. Even if it hadn't been suggested by the Occupy Wall Street movement, I would've closed them. I'm tired of ridiculous fees for their "services," such as they are. It's really not that hard to close and open bank accounts, even if you have automatic bill payment systems set up. I think that's just a myth perpetuated to make us more inclined to accept increased service charges. Enough already.

TGIF - Now I Understand

2011-11-04T16:20:00.000-04:00

It's been a rough few days for me - overwhelmed by schoolwork, my desire to participate in SheWriMo, and all the other things (aka the rest of my life) stranded on the wayside. Fridays have really become the light at the end of the tunnel: a day to both regroup and get some work done. Today I not only managed to finish a flash fiction piece that I'd started months ago, but I also submitted it and another story for publication.

I also finally used a gift certificate from my birthday last year (it was going to expire tomorrow) and treated myself to some Malabrigo yarn to make the Transverse Cardigan from the Spring 2010 issue of Interweave Knits.

Ever diligent, however, I will mark at least five papers before I start to wind the skeins. Promise.

So Appropo

2011-11-01T18:10:00.000-04:00

An appropriate image and sentiment from our Nikki McClure calendar. Write someone a letter today. Imagine how happy they'll be to receive something other than bills and catalogs in the mail.

SheWriMo or The Pen is Mightier than the Resentment

2011-11-01T17:12:00.000-04:00

Okay, not really. I'm not resenting anything or anyone (well, there is a student...) right now, but it's at that ever-special time of year when all the papers are coming in, and I risk blood loss via paper cuts. It would therefore seem natural that I would ignore invitations to take on another task...unless that task is related to my writing, which is currently in a state of suspended animation.

That's where SheWriMo (SheWrites More) comes in - a challenge from the SheWrites community to write something everyday, and not only to write something, but to make your intentions known on the SheWrites site. I actually do write everyday, but it's usually only in my journal. I haven't really worked on a story since, oh, maybe September. I sent my short story manuscript to an editor (who still has it, which to me is a good thing) and in the meantime have mostly been logging rejections and noticing the dwindling number of submissions still alive out there.

Anyway, I took the bait and posted that I would write a blog post today. Voila! Mission accomplished! If only it were always that easy. (Note, evidently November is also National Blog Posting Month - say what?) What pleases me even more than accomplishing today's writing goal is the support of the SheWrites community. Shortly after I'd posted today's mission, someone replied with encouragement. Seriously, that is just what I needed. It's really too easy to be isolated in one's writing practice (which is one reason for this blog as well).

I'll have to think about what tomorrow's goal will be.

Shoe of the Week: Hot Dog! Mustard Cowboy

2011-10-31T21:44:00.000-04:00

I find myself interested in these for a number of reasons - the colour is unique (which could both be a good and a bad thing), they're from Patagonia (not the geographic region but a label I love), and...well, maybe, just maybe, I'm due a little shoe love. It's been a mighty dry patch for awhile.

So Super Cute It's Almost Too Much!

2011-10-25T20:02:00.000-04:00

Really! The giant guitars, the synchronization, their cute little faces, those tiny hands. It's too, too, much, and yet, just what I need.

Whack-A-Mole

2011-10-24T09:05:00.000-04:00

That's really one of my favourite fair games, but right now, it feels like a metaphor for my schedule/life/interests. Something pops up, and I have to hit it with a (plush) hammer to get it back in place.

For example, am I teaching in the buff? Absolutely not, but I've had neither time nor, quite frankly the desire, to photograph what I'm wearing. In fact, I'm a little tired of photos of myself.

Shoe of the week? Send me your suggestions.

Crafting? I was impulse bidding on yarn on ebay last night to make up for the fact that I haven't knit since the summer. How does (potentially) buying more yarn make me feel better for not having time to knit? It suggests that I will again soon (that's the best I can come up with at the moment).

Can't wait to see what pops up today!

Fair Love - End of the Season

2011-10-14T14:33:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we went the Rockton World's Fair, which I think probably marks the end of the fair season (at least for us). I couldn't help but be reminded of when we went to a (much smaller parking lot) fair in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland this summer.

As fall begins, here's a little summertime love to keep us warm.

Bunnies! I love bunnies!

Rockton World's Fair

Our little friend Ernst enjoying the ride.

Rockton World's Fair

Me, enjoying the ride provided by Ernst, a most attentive driver.

Rockton World's Fair

The boy (ours, not Ernst) would've looked mighty good in this coverall. Obviously it was made for him.

Rockton World's Fair

From Newfoundland - me, the lady friend, and Wednesday Lupypciw (awesome artist and all-around individual)

Photo taken by Will Gill - another artist extraordinaire

Just like Ernst, I like a good time.

Photo by Will Gill

Will Gill, lady friend, me, and Wednesday

Photo by Will Gill

Two Shows - Highs & Lows

2011-10-14T11:06:00.000-04:00

On Monday night I went to see Portishead in Toronto at the Sound Academy. I went alone because after eating an extra ticket fee on two separate occasions, I've learned to buy only one ticket. I also figured it was the kind of show where it'd be fine to be on your own. In fact, I'm beginning to think that it really shouldn't be an issue at all (but more on that in another post). (Full disclosure - this was also the first time that anyone's ever given me their phone number unsolicited. Thanks!)

Anyway, the show was fantastic. They sounded as good live as they do on CD, and their stage show/presence was right on target. I really appreciate Beth Gibbons, as well as the band's, understated demeanor - it lets me focus on her singing and the music overall (rather than trying to follow along with some convoluted narrative enacted via costumes and dancers that essentially diverts attention from some of the less-than-interesting/original music performed by others). Know what I mean?

Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson The Immortal Tour show in Hamilton on Wednesday night.

Quite honestly, this show was really disappointing. It was a good thing we'd paid for (the rather expensive) ticket last year because I would've been more than disappointed had I just parted with that money. In a nutshell - there was very little "cirque." The best bits were the contortionists, the musicians (cellist & guitarist in particular), and the flying acrobats. We were amused by what we called the gay gymnasts (guys in studded pseudo-Roman gear "helping" each other with the rings). The rest of it felt more like sub-par dance interpretations of Michael Jackson songs. In fact, we wondered whether Hamilton had gotten the "B" troupe. The dancers weren't synchronized, there were costume malfunctions, and it felt hokey overall. Plus, the animatronic children and the performer dressed as Bubbles the chimp were just plain creepy.

Has Cirque du Soleil jumped the shark?

A Little Bird Told Me You Were Blue

2011-10-11T18:31:00.000-04:00

Just a card I stitched up (thanks to Sublime Stitching's Stitchable Stationery) to cheer up someone near and dear to me.

Thanksgiving Weekend - One of Multiple Posts

2011-10-10T17:57:00.000-04:00

Last night, after coming home from our (Canadian) Thanksgiving meal with friends, the lady friend and I thought we'd warm up the television. As we surfed around looking for something interesting (don't get me started on what's on TV), we came across "If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front" on POV (yay public television!).

The documentary follows Daniel McGowan, a former member of the ELF, who was facing life in prison for his role in two arsons (no one was hurt). I'm not going to go into all the details; you should see the documentary, which is available on the POV website for viewing until October 13th. (You can also go to his website.) What is important to this blog post is that the story moved me, and it reminded me of the urgency I used to feel around social, environmental, and political issues.

This is also not a "Oh, I was once young and idealistic. Where did all that passion go?" post. Sure, those thoughts cross my mind, but what's more productive is thinking about where I can go from here, not where I've already been. I need to acknowledge what issues are important to me, where and how I can lend my support, and what kind of activist I can genuinely be. While it sounds like work, it's also invigorating. And that's something to be thankful for.

Wheel! Of! Exhaustion!

2011-10-07T19:39:00.000-04:00

Yes, I'm surprised that some of my teaching outfits have not featured the ever-present hamster wheel I've felt I've been on recently. (Would it surprise you to find out that I actually teach on three days this semester and that my Thursday outfits have not made it onto the blog?)

Today has been a little better. I think I'm finding a way to juggle teaching four (!) classes with the rest of my life. Well, it's not really juggling when you just find ways to work everyday. The juggling part comes in when I start to feel resentful or, even better, belligerent. What fun! Nonetheless, no one forced me to teach this many classes. It's actually an effort to eliminate some debt so that we can actually live in Berlin for five or six months in 2013.

What made today manageable is that I did my best not to stress about what I wasn't doing and allowed myself to do a few things that weren't school-related like take a walk with the lady friend, go to yoga, take a midday bath, etc. In the end, I've actually managed to get more schoolwork done today than planned. I can drink my beer guilt free!

My biggest issue is that I have a lot of ideas - all the time - and I really want to pursue at least a fraction of them, but time is just not available. I've already had to cut back on a number of plans this fall. For example, I resisted the temptation to sign up for the 30-day yoga challenge. I'm also deferring my entry into the Marine Corps Marathon because I just don't have sufficient time to train (although that hamster wheel might've come in handy for that).

It's also led me to realize that - hold onto your hats - I don't have to try to be good at everything. Like photography. I'm okay, but I wish I could take pictures like the lady friend or some of the other bloggers I follow. However, it's not my thing right now. Maybe in the future, maybe not. I'm a writer. I type fairly fast (having learned in the era of the IBM Selectric) and am pretty handy with words.

I also don't have to do everything I'm good at all the time. For example, it's Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend. All I'm making is cranberry relish. For a moment I thought maybe I should make something else as well, but hell, there are other people coming to dinner, and guess what? They're not teaching four classes.

I'm trying to work smarter and not harder. To that end my mantra for this term is pacing, planning, and control. A little flexibility doesn't hurt either.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: White, Light, & Right

2011-10-05T12:47:00.000-04:00

Dress: Rue du Mail
Shoes: Repetto

What I Wore to Teach Today: Pete and Repeat

2011-10-03T19:25:00.000-04:00

Despite the fact that the ladyfriend had to get up early to snap this photo, this is my first opportunity to post it.

Yes, I've worn this before.
Shirt: Kedem Sasson
Vest: Kedem Sasson
Pants: Comme des Garcons
Shoes: Camper

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Love is a Battlefield

2011-09-28T10:36:00.000-04:00

Full disclosure - classes started on September 8th, but I'd grown tired of my photos. Now I'm enlisting my lady friend and trying to switch up the background.

Skirt: Comme des Garcons
T-Shirt: Hanes
Leather jacket: Gucci
Shoes: Aerosoles

Bracelet: From Mex-I-Can, our local Mexican restaurant

Shoe of the Week: Still Holds Up for Me

2011-09-27T18:07:00.000-04:00

United Nude Eamz Pump

I saw this shoe a number of years ago, and it still holds up. In this picture, it is in a navy metallic leather, and while black might be infinitely more "functional," I think I like this option.

Slow to Start, But Gathering Steam

2011-09-24T14:09:00.000-04:00

Yes, I've been away. You could play a kind of messed-up version of "Where's Waldo" with my travels and travails of the past month; however, I'm starting to feel like I'm catching up to myself.

The first sign of "back to normal" ("normal" being a subjective term) is that I'm excited about fall and, of course, fall fashion. It took a little longer this September, but now that I'm in, I'm really in. I'm looking forward to pouring over the Elle Collections magazine. Not only do they do one of the best jobs of representing the season, but they have interesting layouts and other features. Sure, it cost $20, but it's better than buying four sub-par (and often repetitive) magazines.

Now if it only would get a little colder so I could wear my new jacket!

Where A Lot of It All Began

2011-09-23T19:54:00.001-04:00

Thanks to oldpunkflyers.tumblr.com

28 years ago today, my friend took me to my first hardcore show in Washington, DC. It turned out to be Minor Threat's last show and the beginning of a very important part of my life.

Post I Don't Want to Write

2011-09-03T16:05:00.000-04:00

Super sad times in the midst of celebrating our son's 25th birthday. We had to put our cat Max down last Saturday. I've been avoiding my blog and this post, hoping that somehow it'd get easier. It hasn't.

Max really was a love.

Shoe of the Week: Wish I May, Wish I Might

2011-08-22T15:56:00.000-04:00

I was at a party this weekend and someone commented on what I was wearing, which brought up the subject of fashion. He then asked me, "So what's big for fall?" His question caught me by surprise, and I had no ready reply. I then realized, or consciously acknowledged (same difference?), that I really hadn't been paying much attention. Thankfully the Women's Fashion Edition of the New York Times Style Magazine came this weekend, and I'm back at it.

I love the shape of these pumps with their curved heel. They strike me as both fantastically impractical but quite wearable at the same time. I could see these paired with heavy wool stockings.

Shoe(s) of the Week: Fluid Fantasy

2011-08-15T12:31:00.000-04:00

You have to check out the shoes from Kobi Levi. A friend pointed me in the direction of his blog, and now I'm wondering where one might procure these fantastic creations. Really rather stunning and imaginative creations.

Is August the New September?

2011-08-10T14:00:00.000-04:00

Last weekend a friend asked, "What happened to August?" and I knew what she was talking about. There it was, only five or so days into the month and the month already seemed to be over, or at least over-booked. I feel like I'm careening headlong on a greased slide into September, desperately trying to catch a glimpse of August as it blurs by.

August has always been a busy month, but we've usually disguised the work we're doing by maintaining that summer attitude - there's sun, there's time, why not have a beer? Now we're just cranking - class prep, working on our pieces for the September Supercrawl, finishing my collection, etc. It'd be a little less disconcerting (this apparent loss of the essence of August) if things were going to be settling down in September. Alas, this is not the case. It's only going to continue to ratchet up. But I can't lie, a great deal of it is of our own design.

So in order to grab hold of what's left of summer, I've slipped some jam making in (peach jam - yum, but peeling peaches is a bitch) and have a goal that speaks to what August should be. Before the end of the month, the ladyfriend and I will go to our local, outdoor public pool. It's only about three blocks away, and we've never been. I walked by it yesterday and a longing, mixed with a Proustian moment of nostalgia, overcame me. Hanging out at the public pool. Very summer, very achievable.

Another Week in Paradise

2011-07-26T14:08:00.000-04:00

First things first. Right after my last blog post, we came back to the cottage and a gorgeous evening. It felt like a reward for sitting through a number of cold and wet days. The weather since has been a good mix of sunny days with overcast ones. Sometimes, in the fog of reminiscence, you forget that not all the days of your holiday are sunny. In short, the weather overall has been quite favourable.

The crafting has taken on a different focus. I managed to finish the second sock of a pair destined to be a gift, but knitting has fallen to the wayside. In its place is some Shake-n-Make work. The photo above is of one element of our site-specific installation for the Hamilton Supercrawl in September. We’re making reverse appliqué beaded “cozies” for three concrete planters along James Street North. The holidays, for which most of my current knitting is destined, are at least four months away. The Supercrawl is only five or six weeks away. The great thing with priorities is that you can almost always shuffle them around (just ask my collection of short stories – sigh).

Note: I only added this photo because the ladyfriend loves it so much.

We managed to exploit the strawberry season here but will miss the raspberries. Spring was long and cold in Nova Scotia so things are a bit delayed. Usually we get to go raspberry picking, which means I make raspberry jam. This time, however, we’ve come up with four ways to enjoy strawberries: on their own, in homemade ice cream, as strawberry jam, and as strawberry vinegar. The recipes for the last two items came from the River Cottage Preserves Handbook, which Ian’s girlfriend gave to me last Christmas. Excellent resource for anyone interested in canning and preserving.

I finished reading The Girl Who Played with Fire – holy cow! I’m taking a bit of a breather, or perhaps delaying the gratification of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, by reading The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. The owners of our cottage, who are like family to us, were interested in my opinion of the book. I have to say - so far I’m mesmerized although it is not a book I would’ve picked up on my own.

Our time in Nova Scotia is winding down, and already, I’m thinking (or more accurately, worrying) about things that I need to do once we get back to Hamilton. It’s inevitable that the life you left behind wants to make its presence known to you once again, and in many ways, I’m ready to go back to it.

The Drama of It All

2011-07-18T14:42:00.000-04:00

Our trip to Newfoundland was great. Oh, sure, there was the near-death experience of driving in the potentially moose-laden fog, but we met lots of cool people, got to see a new (to us) province, and generally engaged in rather social behavior.

Our friends (and hosts) took us to Fogo Island. Thankfully we had beautiful weather, which serves as a great background for these photos (taken by the ladyfriend - I'm so lazy with the photography when there's a professional around...). The buildings (artists' studios) are for an artists' residency there. There will be six of them in total scattered about the island. Of the four that have been completed, we visited two and saw a third from the road. Very cool. Very dramatic.

Not to complain, but the weather in Nova Scotia hasn't been all that we've advertised it to be. It's been unseasonably cold, which has prevented us from lazing about in the sun or swimming (yes, you can swim here). I've also found that I haven't been as productive, craft-wise, as I often am although I did finish a sock today. Nevertheless, I have to be careful not to compare each trip to the last (or to the "best of" film that plays in my mind). I'm currently reading The Girl Who Played with Fire and that's going a long way to making it feel like a summer vacation. The fact that we're not being boiled alive in southwestern Ontario is also a consolation.

Orb Action Available to All!

2011-07-06T22:06:00.000-04:00

As you know, we're in Newfoundland, and one of the main reasons we're here is because the ladyfriend is doing a performance/science experiment as part of the ArtEx festival. Tomorrow, around 10am (Newfoundland time, which is 1.5 hours ahead of New York/Toronto time), she'll be launching an orb outfitted with a digital camera and a GPS down the Exploits River. The camera will be snapping photos every two seconds, which she'll turn into an animation once the orb's trip down the river is complete. But you can follow the orb online in real-time because the GPS will be sending position information every 10 minutes. Here's the link to be in on the action: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0qHJWFR5PVa1DYdnFPqOVMXdZ8S1RrYs3. I'll be acting as the "lab assistant" back at the gallery, mapping out the progress of Orbie, as we call it now. While I don't get to follow Orbie down the river, at least I get to wear a lab coat. I guess that, and the trip to Newfoundland, is fine recompense.

On an entirely different, but related note - does anyone know if there's a metal scene in Newfoundland? The landscape, as we saw it before we got covered in fog yesterday, is quite conducive to thoughts of trolls, death, and the meaninglessness of life. Right now, the only "Newfie" music I know of involves fiddles and accordians, which are nice, but not very metal.

Death Drive - and not in the Freudian sense

2011-07-05T23:23:00.000-04:00

When the fog was still romantic

Guest post by the ladyfriend:

We just arrived in Corner Brook Newfoundland after the longest 200 kilometers I have ever driven. The ferry from Nova Scotia docked at around 9:00 pm Newfie time, and there was a lovely mist blanketing the craggy rocks and the tiny sea village of Port-Aux-Basques. In the waning light we were sure we had just awakened Brigadoon. But really, we had just entered a our worst nightmare. As we climbed out of the port, the fog thickened, and after the first 75 kms, with the sun completely set, we found ourselves driving into a wall of fog. We literally couldn't see more than ten feet in front of the car. There were no other vehicles on the road except a couple of 18-wheelers passing the other direction. And given that this is moose country, I couldn't really drive more than 80 kms per hour because I have been warned that if you hit a moose traveling over this speed, the moose ends up in your lap and you die. Again, we couldn't see more than ten feet in front of the car, so if there was a moose, or anything else in the road, we'd have hit it. Claudia was a great co-pilot - she read all the signs, "curving left" and "passing lane ending," and tried to watch for moose and other large obstacles, because I was looking at the only place I could see anything - the road right in front of the car. After several hours we made it to the Comfort Inn safely. The woman at the desk asked us if we had come from the ferry as they were waiting for a party of 20 who were also coming from the ferry. I bet they are still out in the fog.

Our cozy little cabin

Yes, Claudia is outside, on the deck of the ferry. That whiteness behind her - you guessed it, fog.

Vacation Paradox

2011-07-04T15:37:00.000-04:00

Yes, I'm on vacation, but why doesn't anyone write to me? Out of sight, out of mind?

A brief accounting of some of what's happened so far:

Consumed copious amounts of lobster
Read Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson, Veronica by Mary Gaitskill, and four back issues of the New York Times Book Review
Sewed the buttons onto my Rowan vest (yay, another project off the list)
Worked on some stories
Ran, biked, walked, lounged

Tomorrow we sail to Newfoundland. It feels like we're going to the edge of the earth.

Who Needs Shoes...

2011-06-29T15:18:00.000-04:00

when you're on vacation? (Well, evidently we do - I alone brought nine pair, am expecting a tenth in the mail (new running shoes), and the ladyfriend brought eight. Stick with me, and you, too, will develop a thing for shoes.)

The theme of this post is lobster! Lobster, lobster, lobster. For the first time in the eight or so years that we've been coming here, we're here for the local lobster season.

That's six lobsters I'm holding!

So far we've had boiled lobster, lobster rolls, and lobster chowder.

I made a ton of stock for the chowder and reduced some down even more to use later in our stay for a lobster pasta. Lobster season ends tomorrow. We'll probably pick up a few more for good measure.

Neglect as a Gardening Method

2011-06-17T13:33:00.000-04:00

It is the method I most often employ, but look...

...roses on steroids! No deadheading, no cutting back, no fertilizer, just letting them do their thing.

Run with Bauhaus

2011-06-11T10:46:00.000-04:00

Surprisingly great running song.

Deep Thoughts...or Not

2011-06-10T13:47:00.000-04:00

Bumble the Abominable Snowman

In conjunction with the upcoming Walk-It Day co-sponsored by The Running Room and Weight Watchers, the ladyfriend and I were asked to talk to the local newspaper about the role walking has played in our collective weight loss. I was a little hesitant because, well, I didn't really use walking. I just walk. Plus, there's the whole thing about losing weight that I discussed in an earlier post.

Anyway, here's the article. I couldn't help but notice a few comma splices as well as other editing issues, but hey, I wasn't asked to grade it. I thought we'd said some more interesting things but maybe not. It really just makes me think of the song "Put One Foot in Front of the Other" from the claymation classic Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

Shoe Shopping as a Collaborative Venture

2011-06-08T10:54:00.000-04:00

The thing that happens with me is that, when it comes to equipment, I like to buy the right thing because I hate to throw things away or upgrade needlessly (one reason why I'm experiencing an anti-Apple moment despite the fact that I'm a Mac user - the planned obsolescence is head-spinning; anyway, I digress), and yes, I enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a well-made purchase.

This all started when I almost bought a pair of new cycling shoes just because they were inexpensive, but once I started asking (myself and the salesperson) questions about them, thinking about the brand (unknown "house" brand), and what-not, I knew that I had to be a little more discerning. Unlike other shoes (for which I have an endless and insatiable appetite), I like to have one cycling shoe that satisfies on multiple levels: performance, reputation, and eye appeal. With that in mind, I introduce a new contender:

Bontrager RL Mountain WSD Shoe

The one thing about this shoe is that is pretty much screams "CYCLING SHOE!," which may or may not be desirable. Perhaps their biggest fault is that they'll probably give me that roadie (road cyclist) walk: that slightly mincing, uneven gait that come with traditional cycling shoes. Do I care? Should I care?

Shoe of the Week: Bike Better

2011-06-06T19:19:00.002-04:00

I'm currently in "Sporty Spice" mode, having just run a 1/2 marathon (North Face Endurance series trail races) with my father this weekend (ouch, my quads!), the Bolder Boulder 10K last weekend (talk about high), and getting my father's road bike hand-me-down. So, I'm thinking about a new pair of cycling shoes. Believe it or not, the ones I own are really ugly and I'm kind of over them. I've been wearing the ladyfriend's cast-offs (do you sense a theme here - I'm hand-me-down-receptive!), but I almost bought a new pair this weekend, which just made me need to see what my options are. Here are two contenders:

Keen Arroyo Pedal

Specialized Women's Tahoe Shoe

Opinions? Suggestions? In the meantime, I'll keep exploring my options.

Shoe of the Week: Deco decadence

2011-05-30T15:29:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the long delay as well as my inability to find a close up this week's shoe. However, I will keep searching. These Miu Miu shoes are too cool not to gaze at lovingly.

Just Curious

2011-05-18T10:29:00.000-04:00

When you get spam (I mean, what else could it be?) with the subject line "Message from a dying Cancer woman" (exact wording & capitalization), are you supposed to think it's the natural end of life of someone born between June 22nd and July 22nd?

Shoe of the Week: Cheap But Cheerful

2011-05-16T12:06:00.000-04:00

Remember the pattern-clashing I said I'd be interested in pursuing (despite the fact that almost every other impulse of mine is toward single colour/pattern)? Well, I've had these shoes for two years. They were on sale at Target, and I believe they cost around $5 at the time. Cheap and cheerful! Maybe now's the time to really see what they can do!

Yes, I Can

2011-05-15T17:14:00.000-04:00

I guess canning season is officially open for me. Today it was pickled okra, courtesy of Imbibe magazine (how can you not love a magazine whose subtitle is "Liquid Culture"?) and pickled fiddleheads. I got the recipe for that one from the blog, Fat of the Land, which I was led to by Well Preserved. Huzzah!
I tried out my new Weck jars alongside the tried-and-true traditional Bernardin jars. I think I need a little more experience with the Weck, but I'm into them. They're really beautiful and will make great gifts; however, they'll be the kind of jars that if you get one and you don't return it to me when you finish the contents, you won't get another. That's actually a point of etiquette explained to me by a friend who does indeed return her used jars as well as the tins the ladyfriend puts brittle in each year.

Bleeding Rangers' Blue

2011-05-15T17:02:00.000-04:00

I was really saddened by the news that Derek Boogaard, an enforcer for the Rangers, was found dead in his apartment. He was 28 years old. He'd only played part of one season with us (I say "us" because the Rangers are part of my extended family), suffering a concussion that sidelined him partway through, and I'm sure he would've made a great impact for us next season. You can read the New York Times story on it. Too sad. If his death was related to his concussion, the discussion on head shots in the NHL is sure to take on even greater urgency.
Speaking of head shots, the other Ranger making news is my guilty love, Sean Avery. Yes, despite the fact that he is, quite honestly, often an ass-clown, I have a soft spot for him in my heart. Sure, sometimes he makes it hard to love him. Sometimes, I'm embarrassed. But maybe it's the fact that he doesn't care what people think or that he's into fashion and interned at Vogue or maybe it's his choice off-ice eyewear. Anyway, now he's made a public service announcement/advertisement for the Human Rights Campaign.

Gay marriage is not a primary issue for me. It's an important issue as far as the rights and privileges it affords same-sex couples, but let's face it - it was about property before, whether that property was your daughter or your land. Also, this need to be just like everyone else is, frankly, tedious.

Alabama Chanin Corset!

2011-05-14T10:54:00.000-04:00

I completed this yesterday. It actually didn't take as long as one might imagine a totally hand-sewn item to take. The top layer is a CK t-shirt I picked up at Value Village, and the bottom layer is one of the ladyfriend's discards.

Each time I make an Alabama Chanin project I learn something new. This time it was, "Oh, the thread should be doubled!" and "Okay, double knots, I got it." Rather than seeing what I didn't know in each project (this is my third), I'm seeing them as evidence of progress and enjoy them as such. That doesn't mean, however, I might not put a few beads on this.

But now, I swear, it's back to a project from the list!

Lid of the Week: Super Chic Cycling

2011-05-11T13:52:00.000-04:00

Okay, no shoes this week, but let's extend the "of the week" category to include hats or, in this case, helmets.

Tokyo New Jazz - Yakkay

This helmet by Yakkay is so cute I can hardly stand it. In fact, I'm beside myself. I like my regular helmet, but when you're out and about running errands or commuting, something cuter is called for.

Addendum: You can buy other covers to switch out - more styling options!

Monday Muffins

2011-05-09T12:12:00.000-04:00

No, not a new posting category, just something I thought I'd share.

Banana Muffins - Oat bran version (with a nod to The Fanny Farmer Cookbook)
Makes 12 muffins

3 ripe bananas, well mashed
1 whole egg                           1/2 cup of sugar
1 egg white                            1 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour                             1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup oat bran

Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin tin or grease it - your choice. Mix the bananas and eggs together in a large bowl. Stir in the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Divide evenly in the muffin tin. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from pan to a rack. Muffin tin liners come away more easily when the muffins are cool, but it's hard to wait.

Marathon Film Viewing

2011-05-07T11:58:00.000-04:00

I bought a pass for the HotDocs documentary film festival in Toronto, and while I haven't maxed it out yet, I'm feeling a little maxed out myself. Yesterday I went to three screenings and had the good sense to let the fourth one I'd planned on seeing go. I mean, really - do I need to leave the house at 8:15am and not return until 12:30am? I think not.
   However, I have seen some really good films. The best one so far has been The Black Power Mixtape: 1967 - 1975. Using footage from Swedish television broadcasts, it painted a picture of how the Black Power movement was seen outside the US, and perhaps how Americans didn't get to see it. For me, it also added fuel to my interest in the 70s as a time of social and political possibility - something I see less of in North America these days but more of in the current struggles in Africa and the Middle East. Having come out of the hardcore punk scene of the 80s, another time when music spoke to the political and social climate, as well as teaching in universities today, I feel like there's less of that critical mass of agitation, or focus even, in North American youth culture. Yes, it sounds like "kids these days..." So sue me. However, if I ever say "When I was a kid I had to walk twelve miles in the snow with no shoes...," send me a note.

Another screening I attended was Melissa-Mom and Me, which screened with Poster Girl. Poster Girl illustrated a young Iraq war veteran's struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. While not necessarily surprising, I did appreciate the fact that it showed how she eventually found a way to work through it, even as the experience indelibly marks her for life.
     What I really liked about Melissa-Mom and Me was that it touched on something that I think most of us do/believe. There's someone in our past who looms large, for whatever reason, and perhaps we fixate on them a bit. In our imagination, we play an equally important role in their mind. However, that's not always, or probably usually, the case. While this film did demonstrate how it can be one-sided, it also allowed us to understand a bit more about the characters and how that obsession can function.
     The other two screenings I attended were for People I Could Have Been and Maybe Am (shown with Shibuya) and Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then (screened with Tuned In). I thought that People I Could Have Been was interesting (shot entirely on a mobile phone camera) but didn't necessarily leave me with more than I'd come in with. Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then definitely took risks, which I enjoy, and reminded me a bit of Guy Maddin, but I also didn't find the piece satisfying. Maybe I was prejudiced by my own expectations; maybe I felt like it was trying too hard. Of the two shorts, Shibuya and Tuned In, I preferred Tuned In, which was about a man who records the sounds of the magnetic action in the natural world (my description lacks a bit, I know).
    By the time I'd finished the last screening, I knew I couldn't do more for the day. I had a ticket to see American Losers, but just couldn't do it. I think today is a film-free day, but tomorrow I may try to get into El Bulli - Cooking In Progress.
   Pass the popcorn.

Shoe of the Week: Wedge-o-matic

2011-05-03T12:39:00.000-04:00

Yes, I disappeared for two weeks - traveled to see family and to play hockey. But I'm back, perhaps a little spent, but a happy champion. Yes, my team won our division, but let's save that for later.
This week's shoe comes from my mother's closet. We periodically borrow clothes and shoes from each other. It's a "new to me" kind of thing, and then when we return said items, they're new again to us. Bonus!

Time for a pedicure!

Shoe of the Week: Fairground Fun

2011-04-19T11:49:00.000-04:00

I'm imagining a vintage summer fair...something that really doesn't exist anymore outside of our imagination. However, I could make a stand at Whack-A-Mole in these!

Here's the narrative that accompanies them: "So much fun to be had in these. Especially at the fairground, hurling wooden balls at the coconut shy. Then dangle those legs from the Ferris Wheel for all to see."
Not sure what a "coconut shy" is, but hey, I'll go anywhere these TN29 shoes want to take me.

Too Funny. Too Familiar?

2011-04-18T21:33:00.000-04:00

Go to Unhappy Hipster and see if there's any pang of recognition.

Samantha Contis; Dwell

Shake -n- Make In and Out of the Ring

2011-04-18T16:03:00.000-04:00

Pardon the delay in debriefing you on Shake -n- Make's participation in the Main Event at Rodman Hall. It was a crazy blast. We're looking forward to next year's event already.

Here I am practicing my moves in the ring before showtime. Recognize the shoes?


Don't be fooled by the squint, I'm working on my intimidation factor.

In addition to wrestling (and let me tell you - it went beyond polite thumb and leg wrestling), we set up a crafting station so participants could make their own medals.

It's amazing what you can do with Shrinky Dinks, felt, beads, and other dollar store embellishments.

Shake -n- Make 2011

Thanks to everyone at Rodman Hall for inviting us.

Shoe of the Week: Can You Ever Go Back?

2011-04-11T13:14:00.000-04:00

Oh, I've been toying with getting a new pair of Dr. Martens. I had a pair, handed up to me from my son, but I let them go a few years ago. However, these new options just seem like a great combination of hardcore and homey. Tough to say which one is the best here.

Shoe Love - Suno's Erin Wedge

2011-04-07T19:59:00.001-04:00

These shoes are just too, too much. I feel a big love toward them even though I'm afraid I might find myself teetering a bit in them. I'm sure, if given the chance, I'd figure it out.

I just discovered the Suno site, and it has some really great prints that speak to my desire to do a bit more pattern mixing/clashing.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 21

2011-04-07T10:05:00.000-04:00

Whoo-hoo! Last day of classes for the term!

Dress: Rue du Mail
Tights: Wolford
Boots: Siegerson Morrison

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 20

2011-04-05T08:47:00.000-04:00

Skirt: label missing but I think it's Maria Calderara
Shirt: Theory
Sweater: Valerie Stevens
Tights: Wolford
Shoes: La Canadienne

Shake-n-Make at the Main Event

2011-04-04T15:38:00.003-04:00

Come join Shake-n-Make at The Main Event . We'll be at Rodman Hall ~~on the campus of~~ (part of Brock University) this Friday! A domestic partnership made in heaven - wrestling and art! I will be thumb-wrestling while Liss will be leg wrestling, and we'll have a station where you can make your own fancy-pants medal. But don't worry, there's bound to be some smackdown, throwdown action as well - a la a bunch of artists, of course. Who knows what mayhem will occur, but it'll sure to be creative!

For more info, check out the link to The Main Event above.

Cashmere Challenge - Update

2011-04-02T10:28:00.000-04:00

So, the 31st came and went without a completed project, but Celine has successfully used one of her skeins already, so I feel shamed (by no one other than myself) into showing my (ahem) progress.

I swear, I remember this being further along than it evidently is. Do I get points for the fact that I'm making it up as I go along? If this matches what I have in mind, I'm going to be very excited. But I'm not giving any more spoilers. Instead, I'll reapply myself to finishing it. Maybe I can get it done before Celine finishes her second skein project.

How I Have Spent My Sick Days

2011-04-01T20:12:00.000-04:00

My three main activities over the last five days (oh my god!) have been sleeping, reading, and, to a far more limited extent, eating. Mainly I've been sampling chicken soups. Unfortunately, I didn't have any homemade in stock (believe the last family illness wiped out our supplies), so I had to rely on commercial products.

Wolfgang Puck soups are perfectly serviceable. I had both the Chicken with Egg Noodles and the Chicken with White and Wild Rice varieties. My main comment is that when they're not piping hot, I find they take on a more viscous texture. I like mine a little clearer.

I wasn't quite sure how I'd feel about Imagine Organic Creamy Chicken Soup because, well - it was just a dairy-free creamy soup with no chunks of anything in it. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I found it quite tasty and didn't miss the chunks, but that also may have to do with the fact that I was often sipping it out of a coffee mug.

What I really wish I had was some good matzoh ball soup. Not some tired grocery store variety, but something that came from Ratner's or the Ratner's cart that I used to go to when I worked on Wall Street. Yes, it's true. I worked on Wall Street and got matzoh ball soup from a cart.

I've caught up on a number of my magazines, back issues of the New York Times Book Review, plus endless internet surfing. I was inspired by a video I saw on Advanced Style feature Tziporah Salamon, a fabulous New Yorker. My friend Artemis once took me to a workshop/performance she held. I felt then and still do that I have so much to learn and so far to go. She has such a beautiful confidence about her dressing that I still struggle to find. I like to think I don't care what others think, but Tziporah really listens to herself and no one else. You've got to check her out.

On a weird note, I'm afraid a comment I wanted to post on the Sartorialist was squashed. I can't find it. There was a post (March 28), where Schuman wrote, "I loved that she's a bigger, curvier girl than most of the other bloggers who you see in the press and tend to represent the genre." Of course, there was a huge kerfluffle (love that word, never use it) left, right, and center (to the tune of 1571 comments - dude! talk about traffic). I wrote that basically we shouldn't even be pointing out size because it's almost like pointing our race/ethnicity/sexual orientation. I included a sentence that said something like, "We wouldn't say something like "You don't see many black bloggers."" I don't know if that's what happened or if I just somehow slipped through the approval cracks. I thought that maybe my comment might be a little controversial (it didn't seem like anyone had mentioned race) and had the ladyfriend read it for approval. I don't know. A couple of subsequent comments mentioned the lack of a need to talk about size, but maybe it was too political (really?). Who knows? Just kind of disappointing.

Like I said, I've basically been on house arrest for the past five days. I've got a lot of time to think. Thankfully, my fever seems to have broken. I can smell the fresh air of freedom.

Story Online

2011-03-31T10:27:00.000-04:00

I'm very pleased to announce that my short story, Consolation, has been published online by Juked. You can find it here.

You Give Me Fever

2011-03-30T19:50:00.002-04:00

Yeah, that's right. Sing along. Another possible title had been "Rattle & Hum," referencing the sound of phlegm in my chest, but thankfully that's gone now.

However, still sick. Not going into work tomorrow, but the real tragedy is that I'm not in the third row of the HSBC Center in Buffalo cheering on my beloved Rangers like I should be! Instead, I'm sitting at home, watching it on the computer.

Yes, I'm feeling a little sorry for myself and sharing that with you.

Cute & Graphic

2011-03-30T11:30:00.000-04:00

This Anthropologie dress is really cute and looks infinitely wearable. It plays into the graphic, photo-based prints seen on the runway but at far less the investment. It's also made in the USA. I try to be conscious of where things are made; not in a xenophobic way, but in a way that considers labour conditions, price-to-production cost ratio (granted, I don't have exact figures), and construction.

Sure, I'd love a Jil Sander t-shirt...

... but I'd like a pied-a-terre in NYC as well. This Anthropolgie dress could be the sartorial version of my visits to the city.

I'll be posting my projects/possible purchases for spring/summer soon. There's far more that I'll be making (or finishing) than buying, which is a good thing given my recent post on my budget. Of course, I'm curious - what's on your wishlist?

Fashion & Food - Two Favourites

2011-03-29T11:55:00.000-04:00

I've started glancing at the What I Wore column in the Style section of the Sunday NYTimes. Sometimes they feature people that, to put it diplomatically, I'm not particularly engaged by or interested in. (Does that count as diplomacy?) However, this past week featured chef Marcus Samuelsson.

I watched Samuelsson on season 2 of Top Chef Masters. Friends of mine (one a former chef) have eaten at one of his restaurants and raved about his food. Additionally, I've been interested in going to Red Rooster Harlem although it might be nearly impossible to get a reservation now that Obama is holding his next Democratic National Party fundraiser there. However, one of my themes for 2011 is "Book early to avoid disappointment," so maybe I'll guess when I'll be in NYC next and try for a reservation.

Anyway, I really enjoyed his diary of what he wore for the week. Such a dapper dresser! I'm impressed with his colour play, the way he represents his different identities/backgrounds sartorially, as well as his clear appreciation of clothing in general. Plus, he's into thrifting! Why aren't we friend? To me, he's demonstrating how one can have their feet in multiple worlds without sacrificing commitment to any.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 19

2011-03-29T09:56:00.000-04:00

It's a sick day, and I'm not teaching. Just recovering.

Robe: Puella
Pajamas: Charter Club
Slippers: unknown
Face: Sean Penn on the cover of T Magazine (New York Times)

Shoe of the Week: Sometimes It's All About Fantasy

2011-03-28T15:39:00.000-04:00

These Manolo Blahniks are just a dream of deep velvet and maribou feathers. Vintage cocktail girls (hanging off the back) just an added bonus!

At School, In the Hallway

2011-03-24T22:26:00.000-04:00

In addition to the plaintive nature of this message, I like that it looks like someone corrected the grammar.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 18

2011-03-24T07:38:00.000-04:00

With 20cm of snow yesterday, I'm back to taking the train, back to being up early, and back to the kitchen.

Turtleneck: Neiman Marcus
Skirt: Ralph Lauren (originally full-length, but hemmed to a more wearable length)
Stockings: Merino, unfortunately I can't remember the brand
Boots: La Canadienne
Coffee mug: Red Iguana

Really?

2011-03-23T11:20:00.000-04:00

Really.

Soup's On!

2011-03-22T21:36:00.000-04:00

Please check out my guest blog post for Marusya Borciurkiw's blog, Recipes for Trouble, here.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 17

2011-03-22T09:10:00.000-04:00

I just can't escape the "hands on the hip" look. I definitely would not go far on Top Model.

Shirt: Ralph Lauren
Skirt: Comme des Garcons
Shoes: La Canadienne

Shoe of the Week: Patent Pending

2011-03-21T13:18:00.001-04:00

I happen to be a sucker for patent leather, and when combined with an oxford or brogue, it's pretty irresistible; however, I have been unable to find the pair that answers my desire for a pop of colour in a traditional, but not staid (if you know what I mean), oxford.

In the March Vogue, there are a pair of Church's red and silver ones (oooh) on page 504. Unfortunately, the actual Church's site does not have them nor do they acknowledge their existence. I'd also thought that Cole Haan had a pair that were forest green and brown croc embossed, a little bit of an unexpected combo, but the real deal is that they're lighter and while still attractive, not what I'd imagined. Green or purple patent are my first choices, but those red and silver ones could be swell.

So the search continues...

Dinner with Friends; Breakfast with the Cap'n

2011-03-20T12:05:00.000-04:00

Springtime - entertaining and being entertained.

A little duck breast...

goes nicely with leek bread pudding, salad, and friends.

The next morning, it's nice to have breakfast with the Cap'n.

Judge Not Lest Ye Miss Out

2011-03-18T16:56:00.000-04:00

I'm probably the first to admit that I can be quick to judge. I don't like "judgmental" because it sounds so negative and persistent. However, I judge, and I had judged Amanda Brooks' book I Love Your Style as yet another socialite's unnecessary foray into publishing.

Yet I was intrigued enough by it to get it from my local library. (Yes, I own a library card and use it often; you should too - good for the budget.) I hadn't dismiss it in its entirety because I'd read how she wanted to create something like Cheap Chic, my style bible. I believe in this book so much that I own two copies of it - my original that's falling apart, with notations throughout, and a second copy scored from Powell's for far less than it now goes for on the open market. It would be one of the first things I saved if there were a fire. It's that monumental. Trust me on that.

Anyway, now that I've flipped through I Love Your Style, I think I might've been wrong. (If I were really judgmental, that would be difficult for me to say.) While there's a lot of Brooks as style exemplar in here (at least it shows that she walks the walk), I find the attention to detail around different kinds of looks really great. In addition to outlining, say, "Street" or "Bohemian" style, she provides ideas for mixing it up, icons (both contemporary and historic) who embody that style, as well as books and movies you can turn to for further information/inspiration, and more. I have to admit - it's a pretty nice package, and when I can, I'll try to find my own copy.

I'm always on the lookout for great books about style and fashion. If you have any favourites, I'd love to learn about them.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 16

2011-03-17T09:51:00.000-04:00

Driving to work means I can leave later and make the ladyfriend take the photo. Look! No brick kitchen wall.

Dress: Hunter Dixon
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Faryl Robin
Cat: Max

A Sense of Accomplishment

2011-03-16T20:44:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I ended up replicating efforts on a couple of recipes (one of which will be documented soon in a guest post on Recipes for Trouble). One of the projects that didn't require an automatic "do-over" was this sweater that I started way back in November. The sweater has, in fact, been knit in its entirety for months now, but I have a habit of procrastinating on the sewing together. This weekend was the perfect time for it - do a little sewing, engage in something else, weave in a few ends, make lunch. And then, I had a new sweater!

I found the pattern via Ralvery and used some yarn I'd gotten in a sweater kit. The buttons are from a stash of vintage ones I inherited via the ladyfriend.

I think it'll have great utility. It swings out a little and is thick enough to act as a jacket. On a budget? Get crafty!

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 15

2011-03-15T08:56:00.000-04:00

Not loving this photo. Hopefully I can get another one taken tonight when I get home...

Shirt: Banana Republic
Tie: Vintage
Skirt: Comme des Garcons
Striped fishnets (yeah, I know, you can't tell): Pierre Mantoux (?!)
Shoes: Ralph Lauren

Reality Check (Not in the Mail)

2011-03-11T18:25:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I forget, and I guess you can't blame me for forgetting because my closet might indicate otherwise.

I forget that I am on a budget and that I can't really take advantage of my hunting & gathering skills without taking into consideration said budget. This became painfully clear to me today as I checked my bank balance. It is only the 11th of the month, and I feel pretty broke. Now, this feeling is not new to me; however, I'd fallen in love with something, something Vivienne Westwood, and I'd just about convinced myself that a) I couldn't let such a find go, and b) I could afford it.

But the truth is, I can't. Not really. But I don't think I'm alone in falling into the trap of believing that just because I have some swell things (often thanks to my mother), a solid job, and a general lack of financial worry overall (often thanks to the ladyfriend), I can afford the trappings of this life. I have to remember that we're working on being able to spend six months in Berlin. I have to remember that I can let some deals get away. It's really okay, and that's what I have to remember.

Do me a favour, and buy this corset. It's gorgeous, and maybe you'll let me borrow it sometime.

Quick Question

2011-03-10T20:33:00.000-05:00

Is it a requirement of employment that if you work at the Department of Motor Vehicles, Ministry of Transportation, or whatever you call the place where you get your driver's license you are humorless and unpleasant? I mean, they're technically public servants, and I am part of the public. Is it an unpleasant experience in every country? Is it meant to be a driving disincentive?

I'm just asking.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 14

2011-03-10T08:45:00.000-05:00

Dress: Kedem Sasson
Jacket: Comme des Garcons
Tights: Wolford
Shoes: La Canadienne

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 13

2011-03-08T08:47:00.000-05:00

Happy International Women's Day!

Jumpsuit and jacket: Isaac Mizrahi for Vogue Patterns from the '80s. My mother had it made for me a few years ago, staying true to my colour choices on the pattern sleeve.
Turtleneck: label missing
Socks: Target
Shoes: Camper

Shoe of the Week: Mighty Real

2011-03-07T22:11:00.000-05:00

Yes, you make me feel mighty real. These shoes are super comfortable and totally in line with the spring's '70s vibe. Mighty real indeed.

Comme des Garcons

2011-03-04T10:59:00.002-05:00

I stopped by the Comme des Garcons store while in New York to pick up a new supply of perfume (their original scent), and I saw this dress.

Photo courtesy of Style.com

I wish I'd tried it on, but it's probably better that I didn't. I don't think CdG has layaway...

Cashmere Challenge

2011-03-04T10:34:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I finally got to visit with my good friend Celine, and I left with far more than I'd come with: freshly made madeleines, some Liberty fabric, and of course, yarn!

One of the yarns was this gorgeous cashmere. I had a choice between the light gray and the dark gray, and chose one of each, leaving Celine with one of each as well. Since we have the same materials, we've decided to have a little challenge - what will each of us come up with, using this yarn, by the end of March?

Oh sure, I need another challenge/project like I need a new pair of shoes, another coat, etc. But who can resist?! I knit up a swatch and it has an incredible hand that is far more substantial than I'd expected. I have an idea, but it's looking more and more like I'm going to have to make the pattern myself. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 12

2011-03-03T07:37:00.000-05:00

If I hadn't been running out of time, I would've reshot this image. Too many "hands on hips, don't know what to do with face" shots.

YYigal dress
Secret (brand name) tights
La Canadienne boots

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 11

2011-03-01T08:52:00.000-05:00

It's back to school after our winter break.
J. Peterman velvet jacket
Etro shirt (same one from #10, but I thought - who cares? who remembers?)
Rohka skirt

Publish Post

Hue tights (in a pink-toned brown)
Robert Clergerie shoes

The Cat is Love

2011-02-28T21:15:00.001-05:00

Our cat, Max, is starting to show his age, and just a week and a half ago, we thought that we might have to put him down. But he seems to be holding his own, finding his old man groove, and part of that groove is sleeping a lot. On warm things, like the VCR (yes, we still own a VCR) and the cable box.

But look at him, he's pure love.

Shoe of the Week: Messenger of Spring

2011-02-28T11:12:00.000-05:00

These Hermes flats were a Valentine's gift from my mother. I'm looking at them as a harbinger of spring.

Shoe of the Week: Conspiracy Afoot!

2011-02-21T07:37:00.000-05:00

Sorry, but there's no photo of a shoe of the week today. I am in New York City working the Coterie (fashion trade show). That doesn't mean I have no shoes. It just means that I seem to have even less time than I do at home.

But here's the conspiracy - on Saturday, I saw my mother. We did what I call "the circuit": lunch and shopping at Bergdorf's followed by shopping and a snack at Saks. We try to do this twice a year (whenever I'm in town to work the show). Of course I look at shoes. How can I not? And then, my mother asks me, "How many shoes do you own?" and she's got that tone. You know the tone, the tone that says, "Enough already." Now I must interject this - my mother is super stylish and also likes to discover (as I like to think of shopping), and she has stacks of shoe boxes in her bedroom (kettle, pot, black?). Plus, she just gave me a pair of shoes when I saw her earlier this month! (How much crack do you smoke? Well, how much do you give me?)

My answer, which is irrelevant, was "A lot. But I get rid of some, too."

Then, later on the subway "home" (Brooklyn will always be a home to me), I'm admiring another woman's Sorel's (they seemed to have had a flannel upper shank), and my ladyfriend says to me, "You have enough boots."

Say what?! I believe that "enough" is subjective. A conspiracy. I can smell it.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 10

2011-02-17T07:34:00.000-05:00

I'm not really happy with the quality of these photos; however, they're not bad for the semi-darkness of 7am. To aid in imagery, I'll tell you what colour everything is:

Rose pink and gold stripe Etro shirt
Deep burgundy Isaac Mizrahi skirt (from when he had his first line)
Fushia Hue tights
Two-tone (grey with grey/purple) Kenneth Cole Reaction shoes

I know, you probably would've never guessed from that photo...

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 9

2011-02-15T07:38:00.000-05:00

Alaia dress
Suede beret with missing label
Merino wool stockings (not tights)
Italian boots (name worn away)

Shoe of the Week: Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T10:26:00.000-05:00

Shoe love is a big love.

Blog Love

2011-02-13T19:16:00.000-05:00

I bought this book at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art when we were in the Bay Area over the holidays and have recently been using it for both inspiration and procrastination. It's a great compendium of fashion blogs from around the world (one is even from Burlington, ON - right next door to Hamilton! Fashion abounds!). Anyway, I've fallen in love with this blog, sad pony guerrilla girl, from Croatia. I can't read the text, but I love her photos, the ambiance, the mood, as well as the way she styles herself. Hopefully she won't mind that I've used a photo from her blog to illustrate my point:

Sometimes I just get excited by discovering something new, something that makes me think just a little differently.

Win-Win

2011-02-13T10:44:00.000-05:00

It's a good thing I made the ladyfriend go to the dance last night because she ended up winning a PS3 for us! That's what I call win-win. I got to go dancing (and left many paillettes behind me, kind of like the breadcrumbs of Hansel & Gretl) and Liss won a prize!

Now if only we had time to play!

Going Dancing

2011-02-12T20:56:00.000-05:00

I love to dance, but it seems like there are never enough opportunities to do so. I'm forcing, yes forcing, my girlfriend to go out tonight. (Can you imagine that she said she'd rather stay home? I thought I was cute!)

Anyway, for tonight - the shortest dress I'll probably ever wear, from French Connection. My mother had actually bought it for herself (to wear as a tunic), but then gave it to me.
I'm wearing a little Noblu jacket, given to me by someone I know through Coterie (the NYC fashion trade shows), plus brownish/red Hue tights, and yes, La Canadienne boots. I mean, it's winter and I live in Canada. Really now.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: 8

2011-02-10T07:36:00.000-05:00

(Have borrowed the much superior camera of the ladyfriend).
Sweater: Handknit by me - Noro yarn & Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton pattern
Skirt: j. morgan puett
Boots: (not visible/not on) previous shoe of the week boot (name worn off)