Can't stop the signal...

A good idea? A tantalizing proposition? A tease? Dunno, but it's given my day a bit of a lift, and it's been a good day so far so now I'm all ecstatic.

http://www.fireflyseason2.com/Index.asp

Raised by wolves...

Only in the metaphorical sense, of course. Because unlike the previous owners of this house, I don't think wolves would feel the need to use 30 NAILS PER SQUARE FOOT to ensure the lick and stick tiles, or what remained of them, stayed safely adhered to the subflooring. Perhaps the wolves would have more respect for the century old oak beneath the subfloor. I'd like to think so.
Since the oak has been poc marked by unjust and overzealous hammers, and since we knew this would be the case well in advance, we are prepared. Bamboo goes down tomorrow, and then we'll paint all the trim white, and everything will be just shiny sir, just shiny indeed. And cat will be happier, by miles. She doesn't like her chair being moved...
I know that new houses aren't better. I've talked with contractors who've talked of other contractors taking a dump in unfinished drywall. I know that the other owners were hard working, decent people who just happened to feel that fake wood paneling over real wood paneling looked better, and cast iron tubs should be hidden by water blistered arborite. Logically, I know this. Emotionally? Siding with the house in these stories as renovation reveals them, every freaking time.

A miscommunication, two weddings, and the beginnings of a sweater

Two weddings yesterday, both started out same sex. That is, the elopement I had for mid afternoon had been referred to me as a same sex wedding, the gentleman I'd spoken to had referred to his partner and agreed that husband sounded better than spouse, the name of his intended was foreign to me and I couldn't tell if it was masculine or feminine...given that the office had told me same sex, I went with that. The groom who picked me up at the subway was pretty darn metrosexual in appearance...but, I will forever remind myself, most grooms do. He had to run an errand before returning to his house and getting married in the the presence of his family, and as he drove he happily chatted about his intended partner, their future children and it was not till he used the term "wife" that a little bell went off in my head. I mean, same sex couples make great parents, it's not that unusual for parents of same sex couples to be properly supportive...I know a lesbian who refers to her wife as a "husband" sort of jokingly...bugs me, but who am I to judge. As he shopped for champagne and I waited in the car I did some "hmmm" sort of math and decided the best way was the direct approach. Ask, get it over with out of view of the family so I can clarify the ceremony and no one need ever know the offices or my mistake. So, when he came back, I asked him if he was marrying a girl. I guess a sort of "hmmm" math went on for him too as he'd been wondering about the "husband vs spouse" question and my hesitation to his use of "wife"...and yes, girl. Did it stay in the car? Of course not, first thing out of his mouth once at the house was "she thought you were a man" to this gorgeous wee woman who said in the cutest south African/Hindi accent "I told you to stop using the word partner to talk about me! It means something different here!" Hilarity didn't end there as their camera was programmed to bark every time the flash went off....
Second wedding was definitely same sex, I'd spoken with both manly men and arranged the ceremony in advance over email. Americans, neither of them had really considered marriage until their state said they couldn't. They'd been in a committed and loving relationship of more than twenty years, and the suggestion that it wasn't as valid, that they were second class citizens drove them over the border and into the care of a B&B I know. As they were expressing this to me I confess I got a wee bit angry with the govt and faith behind it. The whole sanctity of marriage argument is a huge pile of crap - most straight marriages these days end at five years. With people like my grandparents working it out for more than sixty, that's a bunch of indecisive and incomplete people at the bottom end of the spectrum really dragging the average down. I'm not opposed to divorce - if you can't be happy with someone, moving on is the bravest and most decent thing to do. However, it just seems like most people forget that marriage isn't all wine and roses, it's vinegar and thorns too and not for the faint of heart. When I found the words that might be comforting (because groom in angry tears over such a slight? have to say something) I was surprised (being ecumentically at liberty) that they came from the Christian Bible, "love is patient and kind, it is not envious or boastful or rude". I couldn't help thinking that the minds behind stating that someone's ability to love, to have and to hold, cherish and comfort, yadda yadda yadda was defined by a difference in legitimate human sexuality were more than a little rude. And I said that as a couple for more than twenty years they were an inspiration and I thanked them for stengthening the institution of marriage. Then we had cake, and saw that it was good...
Then - knitting Olympics casting on party at the Duke of York. The bar apparently didn't believe the fabulous organizers when they said we were loud. Bunch of knitters, right? Now I'm new to the whole knitting thing, and way new to the new knitting community out there but quiet? Not very. Crochet makers were referred to as "hookers". A rousing chant of "show us your knits" was not out of place. Apparently, there have been much calmer frat parties at the venue and the other patrons...well, all moved away from us on the group W bench. We drank through straws to keep our hands free, cheered *anything* and watched/participated in the opening ceremonies. Fan freaking tastic.

Happy Birthday To Me

Two weeks ago today, I got downsized from a job I loved and was at for over 5 years. Today I turn 35. All 5'3" and far too many pounds of me. In the past two weeks, I've got my office into better shape (mostly), finally moved some other furniture around that I've been meaning too for a while, separated no less than 12 crates of junk to go to the local jumble shop, acquired a pair of sky blue doc's for less than $20, had business cards printed, worked on my resume with a consultant, joined the knitting olympics and attended workshops. And I've relaxed, possibly too much but it's new territory for me so I'm not sure. Things I haven't done enough of include writing, painting and exercise. So those would be my very personal new years resolutions. Today, I've got one workshop, bit of stuff around the house to do, possible scrabble match with friends planned and have already received a phone message from my dad singing happy birthday, heartfelt and badly. Which was more kinds of nice than I can count.

Holiday Shmoloday

And it's shaping up to be busy...tonight I have a round of stitch n bitch with friend Kelly in which we *hopefully* are able to give over a gift before a friend moves, tomorrow I have my first outsource seminar all afternoon followed by a wedding rehearsal that night, Friday I have a placement appointment in the morning and a wedding that night, Saturday I've got a gig helping friends move (because work? have to) followed by an evening in Acton (don't even *think* it, okay?), Sunday I've got another Latin class and then next week is crazy - mix of care team meetings, poetry group launches, birthday (at hot house? Maybe), book club meetings, weddings and the launch of Team Canada in the Knitting Olympics (which I still have to pick a pattern for...) all through the evenings and seminars during most days. Plus I've phoned up City Hall to see if I can get some shifts there. Then, Saturday, party.
Seriously considering relabeling house hold things for Latin, which might really help.
Ross has a band in upstairs right now, drum tracks going in, and this drummer is really good. But lately all I can think of when I hear drum tracks is Christopher Walken screaming "cowbell! it needs more cowbell!!"