It has been lovingly pointed out to me that I have not blogged in well over a week. GASP! Someone read's me enough to notice :)
Anyways, it was a weird week here in the Big Apple. The Engineer and I made a big decision. No we're not having a baby or getting married. But we are staying in this lovely city for much longer than this December. A few years in fact.
The 'decision', as we are lovingly calling it, is scary and exciting and very bittersweet. The LDR is hard enough and now the end is not in sight. We didn't realize how badly we wanted to go back to the Great White North. On the plus side, I don't have to rush to all the museums next week or eat my weight in full sour pickles because we are NOT leaving.
Anyways, the 'decision' was made because the Engineer didn't get a job back in Canada. Ironically, his 'fallback' is for a superstar bank that's so famous it's included on NYC's tourist water taxi tours. AND its name is mentioned on SNL's Weekend Update quite often. Plus we get to move to an awesome part of Brooklyn to a house with non-slanting wooden floors and laundry (if I'm lucky). Still, the Engineer was bummed even after I pointed out these fun facts and when he's bummed, I'm bummed. Apparently that's what happens when you are in a relationship. You feel what the other person feels.
Super.
And then it makes you not write. Okay fine, it makes me not write. But I'm back (lucky you) and it looks like the New York adventures are going to keep rolling . . .
www.bridesmaiddiaries.com
Gabriola in the dark
One of the first things I was told when I came to Gabriola was to be prepared for power outages. In fact, our housewarming present from Cousins Robbie and Mary was a delightful hamper containing all that was needed to survive just such an event.
Gabriola's electricity comes from Vancouver Island along a rather tired supply line that is reputedly on the verge of overload or collapse much of the time. Power outages are frequent - sometimes it's a tree falling over a line and blacking out part of the island; sometimes it's the whole island plunged into darkness - maybe for hours on end. And, being an island, there's always the potential for the outage to occur too late in the day for BC Hydro's repair gang to make it over - and back again - before the last ferry leaves. In which case, you just wait till tomorrow.
Travelling late around the island, it's sometimes difficult to tell whether there's a power outage or not. With only 3 streetlights, all within a short distance of the ferry, you can drive for miles without seeing another light - especially after curfew (generally somewhere between 9 and 10pm) when all good folk have retired for the night. Arrive on the last ferry at 2315 and it feels like you could be the only ones here.
So far, I've not experienced a prolonged outage here after dark - but earlier this evening it seemed like that might all be about to change. Lights flickered a couple of times and then went out. Complete and total darkness under a cloudfilled sky without even a star to break through.
Where's my torch, I wondered? I've been using it every day in and out of the crawlspace under the house, where much of the plumbing and wiring lurks in constant darkness. Did I plug it back in when I'd finished, so that it would come on if the power went out? No, of course I didn't.
Tonight's outage lasted less than a minute - but it was a reminder that maybe I needed to pay more attention in future to the little things. Where are the candles and matches? Hmmm, I think I saw them last week.
Despite the very brief interlude without power, I just happened to have my camera at the ready and was able to capture the full effect for posterity. I thought I'd share it with you while I go look for the matches.
Gabriola's electricity comes from Vancouver Island along a rather tired supply line that is reputedly on the verge of overload or collapse much of the time. Power outages are frequent - sometimes it's a tree falling over a line and blacking out part of the island; sometimes it's the whole island plunged into darkness - maybe for hours on end. And, being an island, there's always the potential for the outage to occur too late in the day for BC Hydro's repair gang to make it over - and back again - before the last ferry leaves. In which case, you just wait till tomorrow.
Travelling late around the island, it's sometimes difficult to tell whether there's a power outage or not. With only 3 streetlights, all within a short distance of the ferry, you can drive for miles without seeing another light - especially after curfew (generally somewhere between 9 and 10pm) when all good folk have retired for the night. Arrive on the last ferry at 2315 and it feels like you could be the only ones here.
So far, I've not experienced a prolonged outage here after dark - but earlier this evening it seemed like that might all be about to change. Lights flickered a couple of times and then went out. Complete and total darkness under a cloudfilled sky without even a star to break through.
Where's my torch, I wondered? I've been using it every day in and out of the crawlspace under the house, where much of the plumbing and wiring lurks in constant darkness. Did I plug it back in when I'd finished, so that it would come on if the power went out? No, of course I didn't.
Tonight's outage lasted less than a minute - but it was a reminder that maybe I needed to pay more attention in future to the little things. Where are the candles and matches? Hmmm, I think I saw them last week.
Despite the very brief interlude without power, I just happened to have my camera at the ready and was able to capture the full effect for posterity. I thought I'd share it with you while I go look for the matches.
G'night all!
Space is growing
Here are the latest photographs showing progress in clearing the space for the kitchen.
This picture shows the joist which provides extra support to the ceiling. A second joist will be put in about 6" this side of it, so that the void in between can be used for concealed downlighting. The whole thing will then be encased with stained boarding.
This picture shows the joist which provides extra support to the ceiling. A second joist will be put in about 6" this side of it, so that the void in between can be used for concealed downlighting. The whole thing will then be encased with stained boarding.
The one remaining piece of studwork from the old wall is actually held up by the wiring - it's not fixed to anything else at the top. As soon as the wiring is moved, the studwork will come down.
...and there it was, gone! The two cables that disappeared into the ceiling both ran right across the front bedroom, so there is a bit of work to do there tomorrow!
Anchors aweigh!
I recall one occasion on the River Thames when my failure to weigh anchor resulted in our dutch barge making embarassingly slow progress to the boatyard where I was seeking to refuel. Fortunately, I was the only one aboard at the time and it proved only to brighten the morning of the dockhand at the boatyard as he pointed out to me that there was a long chain emerging from the anchor locker and disappearing into the water below the bow.
This morning, the captain of the BC Ferry Spirit of British Columbia suffered a somewhat more public humiliation. The 7 a.m. sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay came to a juddering halt shortly after negotiating Active Pass when its bow anchor unexpectedly plunged to the ocean floor.
One truck driver described how he was woken from his sleep by a loud banging sound and the ship juddering and swaying from side to side. Another witness had earler described how the vessel had "done a doughnut" before coming to a halt. Not sure what "doing a doughnut" could mean, but it sounds impressive!
Deborah Marshall, spokeswoman for B.C. Ferries, confirmed that the vessel's anchor had inadvertently released after the ferry cleared Georgina Point on Mayne Island. "The crew did not deploy the anchor," she said. At 9:20 a.m., after an 80-minute stop, the ship was underway again.
"There is nothing mechanically wrong with the Spirit of B.C.," Marshall said. So what did cause the anchor to drop? A disgruntled passenger wanting to get home to Mayne Island? Maybe one day we shall be told.
Until then, maybe we should just remember that the Spirit of British Columbia was supposed to have been taken out of service 2 weeks ago for annual maintenance and recertification. Because of the fire aboard her sister ship Spirit of Vancouver Island, BC Ferries decided to delay the annual maintenance on Spirit of BC.
There may be no connection of course, but it does make you wonder.....
This morning, the captain of the BC Ferry Spirit of British Columbia suffered a somewhat more public humiliation. The 7 a.m. sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay came to a juddering halt shortly after negotiating Active Pass when its bow anchor unexpectedly plunged to the ocean floor.
One truck driver described how he was woken from his sleep by a loud banging sound and the ship juddering and swaying from side to side. Another witness had earler described how the vessel had "done a doughnut" before coming to a halt. Not sure what "doing a doughnut" could mean, but it sounds impressive!
Deborah Marshall, spokeswoman for B.C. Ferries, confirmed that the vessel's anchor had inadvertently released after the ferry cleared Georgina Point on Mayne Island. "The crew did not deploy the anchor," she said. At 9:20 a.m., after an 80-minute stop, the ship was underway again.
"There is nothing mechanically wrong with the Spirit of B.C.," Marshall said. So what did cause the anchor to drop? A disgruntled passenger wanting to get home to Mayne Island? Maybe one day we shall be told.
Until then, maybe we should just remember that the Spirit of British Columbia was supposed to have been taken out of service 2 weeks ago for annual maintenance and recertification. Because of the fire aboard her sister ship Spirit of Vancouver Island, BC Ferries decided to delay the annual maintenance on Spirit of BC.
There may be no connection of course, but it does make you wonder.....
Back to basics
Removal of the old utility cupboards has been completed and the old wall studwork is next. These pictures give a feel for the space that the new kitchen will occupy.
Old kitchen meets new
Wall panels have come off the back of the internal wall to the downstairs bathroom
Wiring and wall to be removed next.
Meanwhile, the door has gone in to conceal the hot water tank and plumbing:
Oldne
There is a product from Neutrogena that deals with both wrinkles AND acne. The ad says, "How is it at my age I have to worry about wrinkles AND pimples?"
So true.
WTF?
I may have inherited fine hair, canckles and an inability to curl my tongue, but I did luck out on the skin gene. I have very British peaches and cream skin. My mum has it. Her mum had it. And I assume my great-grandmother had it. Very few wrinkles, normal skin texture, creamy tone. Yes, I am very lucky. Except for one very ANNOYING thing: I STILL GET ZITS!
GAH!
Again, WTF?
I am 30! THREE ZERO! And I feel my pimple growing capability has gotten worse as I have gotten older. How is this fair? I always have one on vacations - in Cape Cod the one on my chin was so huge we called it Ernie. And I always have one for days on set. Without fail, when I book a job I always book a zit too.
But here is the other issue: body acne. ICK. I know no one talks about it, but we all know it happens.
I work out a fair bit and sweat profusely. This has caused a problem on parts of my upper back. The horror! I shower but still get the blasted things where my Lululemon T-Top sits. I beg the Engineer to pop them but he refuses (I have a friend in Vancouver who LIVES to pop zits) and says it is worse for the pimple. But I have one so bad right now that even he thought it needed some probing. Gross. What do we call zits on the back? Backne of course.
I once got a zit on my breast. Boobne. Sometimes they happen on the chest. Chestne.
Now here is one that is the most horrific of all. Assne. That's right, zits on your ass. GAH! I have only had two. Once when I was at school in London. I thought a spider had bitten my lower left cheek because the offending mark was so big and it hurt. But when I showed a friend of mine she sadly informed me it was a zit. WHAT? On my butt cheek? The second time? Right now. God, how do we get zits on our butts? Does Neutrogena make a cream for that??
I sort of want that $200 zip zapper thing from Sephora. Is it worth it? I don't know. I still have yet to find the perfect eliminator of pimples. Keihl's is okay. That Jessica Simpson stuff is apparently good as a spot treatment but crazy drying. Tea tree oil? Paper bag? Toothpaste?
I think I would rather have wrinkles that god damn zits. It's been 15 years! Stop torturing me you horrible red sacs of puss!!
So true.
WTF?
I may have inherited fine hair, canckles and an inability to curl my tongue, but I did luck out on the skin gene. I have very British peaches and cream skin. My mum has it. Her mum had it. And I assume my great-grandmother had it. Very few wrinkles, normal skin texture, creamy tone. Yes, I am very lucky. Except for one very ANNOYING thing: I STILL GET ZITS!
GAH!
Again, WTF?
I am 30! THREE ZERO! And I feel my pimple growing capability has gotten worse as I have gotten older. How is this fair? I always have one on vacations - in Cape Cod the one on my chin was so huge we called it Ernie. And I always have one for days on set. Without fail, when I book a job I always book a zit too.
But here is the other issue: body acne. ICK. I know no one talks about it, but we all know it happens.
I work out a fair bit and sweat profusely. This has caused a problem on parts of my upper back. The horror! I shower but still get the blasted things where my Lululemon T-Top sits. I beg the Engineer to pop them but he refuses (I have a friend in Vancouver who LIVES to pop zits) and says it is worse for the pimple. But I have one so bad right now that even he thought it needed some probing. Gross. What do we call zits on the back? Backne of course.
I once got a zit on my breast. Boobne. Sometimes they happen on the chest. Chestne.
Now here is one that is the most horrific of all. Assne. That's right, zits on your ass. GAH! I have only had two. Once when I was at school in London. I thought a spider had bitten my lower left cheek because the offending mark was so big and it hurt. But when I showed a friend of mine she sadly informed me it was a zit. WHAT? On my butt cheek? The second time? Right now. God, how do we get zits on our butts? Does Neutrogena make a cream for that??
I sort of want that $200 zip zapper thing from Sephora. Is it worth it? I don't know. I still have yet to find the perfect eliminator of pimples. Keihl's is okay. That Jessica Simpson stuff is apparently good as a spot treatment but crazy drying. Tea tree oil? Paper bag? Toothpaste?
I think I would rather have wrinkles that god damn zits. It's been 15 years! Stop torturing me you horrible red sacs of puss!!
The Mosquito that Almost Killed Us
The Engineer nearly dumped me last night. Apparently. I was asleep. He nearly broke up our three year relationship over a . . . . . . . mosquito.
That's right, I tiny, but annoying, insect. He was going to let this blood sucker break us up.
Why you ask?
Because it was my fault there was a mosquito in our home to begin with.
We have a window in our bedroom that is above my desk. I love to have my window open to let in the glorious fall breeze. This window has a screen. And you have to put the screen in when you open the window. And sometimes I forget to put the screen in.
Oooooops.
In Vancouver I don't need a screen! I like the window to be open wider than the screen allows! It was so freaking cold here that I thought all the mosquitos were dead! It's October!
So many excuses and one itty bitty, teeny tiny, but horrific mosquito. This mosquito is an asshole. I have about seven bites on my arms from last night alone.
Anyways, the Engineer really hates the mosquito. He goes to bed with a toque pulled over his eyes, a long shirt and then cocoons himself in the duvet. At about 4:30 last night he sat up straight in bed, turned on the lights and yelled a very loud curse word. I sleepily peeped my eyes open.
From my view he looked ridiculous. Sitting up in bed with a toque sitting haphazardly and trying to locate the mosquito. He sort of looked like a cat. You know how they jerkily move their heads around when they are following a fly? That's what he looked like.
And he was MAD.
He stormed out of bed, went to his office (to do what I have no idea), so I turned off the light. He stormed back in, turned the light back on and proceeded to check his Blackberry (because mosquitos hide in them). I could sense he was mad, and sure it was my fault, but he looked so ridiculous that I couldn't help by start laughing at him. And it made him laugh (he told me this morning he was fake laughing - lies).
He killed what we think was the rogue mosquito and went back to bed. It took me until 5:30 to fall back asleep. Now it was my turn to be mad.
This morning, he informed me that he was sooooooo mad at me (for not putting in the screen) that he was considering breaking up with me (apparently what he was doing in the office) but didn't want me telling people he dumped me over a mosquito. Because it was over a screen, he said. Yeah, because that reason would be so much better.
So now I can't whine that I have bites all over my arms. And I will never ever forget to put the screen in the window. In fact, I am sitting in front of it now and a lovely fall breeze is blowing my curtains. We also have to assume that New York has mutant mosquitos that NEVER die.
God, I hope he doesn't see the hole in the screen in the bathroom. He might go crazy.
That's right, I tiny, but annoying, insect. He was going to let this blood sucker break us up.
Why you ask?
Because it was my fault there was a mosquito in our home to begin with.
We have a window in our bedroom that is above my desk. I love to have my window open to let in the glorious fall breeze. This window has a screen. And you have to put the screen in when you open the window. And sometimes I forget to put the screen in.
Oooooops.
In Vancouver I don't need a screen! I like the window to be open wider than the screen allows! It was so freaking cold here that I thought all the mosquitos were dead! It's October!
So many excuses and one itty bitty, teeny tiny, but horrific mosquito. This mosquito is an asshole. I have about seven bites on my arms from last night alone.
Anyways, the Engineer really hates the mosquito. He goes to bed with a toque pulled over his eyes, a long shirt and then cocoons himself in the duvet. At about 4:30 last night he sat up straight in bed, turned on the lights and yelled a very loud curse word. I sleepily peeped my eyes open.
From my view he looked ridiculous. Sitting up in bed with a toque sitting haphazardly and trying to locate the mosquito. He sort of looked like a cat. You know how they jerkily move their heads around when they are following a fly? That's what he looked like.
And he was MAD.
He stormed out of bed, went to his office (to do what I have no idea), so I turned off the light. He stormed back in, turned the light back on and proceeded to check his Blackberry (because mosquitos hide in them). I could sense he was mad, and sure it was my fault, but he looked so ridiculous that I couldn't help by start laughing at him. And it made him laugh (he told me this morning he was fake laughing - lies).
He killed what we think was the rogue mosquito and went back to bed. It took me until 5:30 to fall back asleep. Now it was my turn to be mad.
This morning, he informed me that he was sooooooo mad at me (for not putting in the screen) that he was considering breaking up with me (apparently what he was doing in the office) but didn't want me telling people he dumped me over a mosquito. Because it was over a screen, he said. Yeah, because that reason would be so much better.
So now I can't whine that I have bites all over my arms. And I will never ever forget to put the screen in the window. In fact, I am sitting in front of it now and a lovely fall breeze is blowing my curtains. We also have to assume that New York has mutant mosquitos that NEVER die.
God, I hope he doesn't see the hole in the screen in the bathroom. He might go crazy.
Kitchen Scraps
A friend of mine (who starred with me in my very first short film) is releasing a cookbook that he wrote (isn't it incredible when people surprise you?) in Calgary tomorrow night at the Cookbook Company
The book itself is call Kitchen Scraps and he has a blog of the same name. Pierre's done a great job of fusing recipes with amazing and fun illustrations. Recipes like BLT Kama Sutra and Pantalone's Golden Saffron Coins (an ode to T&S and our intermediate year at the BFA- thought you would appreciate it) all with humorous art.
The book has already been released in Vancouver at Barbara Jo's
Go support a good Canadian boy!
The book itself is call Kitchen Scraps and he has a blog of the same name. Pierre's done a great job of fusing recipes with amazing and fun illustrations. Recipes like BLT Kama Sutra and Pantalone's Golden Saffron Coins (an ode to T&S and our intermediate year at the BFA- thought you would appreciate it) all with humorous art.
The book has already been released in Vancouver at Barbara Jo's
Go support a good Canadian boy!
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