Day 2: Breakfast

Usually I eat two breakfasts; one as soon as I get up in the morning and the second at work about two hours later. This is number one. I ate the peach for my second breakfast - but doesn't it add a nice pop of colour? Don't say you're not enthralled. 

Me

I decided to try this:

I realize it says January, but I figure I can use it every month. I know technically I'm supposed to be the one taking the photo, but I couldn't resist sharing this amazing snapshot my girlfriend sent to me.

Don't mind the bloody gibs...they came from a pinata during last weekend's bachelorette party.

Here we go with number one: Me.



Summer lovin'

I've often said I would live in a place with no winter whatsoever. My ideal environment is one where the temperature hovers around 30 degrees celcius, a light breeze rustles the leaves, and the sun warms our faces as we sit in a park and sip red wine. Then we will go home to our lava lamps and burn our hemp-scented candles while Bon Iver sings smoothly from the speakers.

While most complain about the heat, you will NEVER hear me do so. Summer's here. It's finally here. In full bloom. Best time of the year.

From October until about May or June, I am cold. July and August are the best months of the year for many reasons - a big one being these are the two months when I am finally warm. Even as I type this, I'm fighting the urge to turn around and close the window behind me (the breeze is a little nippy, ok?)

Everything's better in Summer.

Clothes are brighter. Everything is brighter. Trees, flowers, grass, the sky - it's all alive and thriving.

Dinner parties are great in the summer. What other time of year can you be praised for serving grilled hot dogs, potato chips and lemonade?

Summer time is a total kids' season. No heavy coats, no boots, no hats, mittens or toques. You don't even have to have your hair blow-dried before bed. Shorts, t-shirts, barefeet in the cool grass, chalk drawings on the sidewalk.

Everything seems so much more relaxed in the summer. Maybe it's the heat, or the fact that nothing seems so crucial in the summer. Work can be put off ("she's on vacation until next week, let's just do it then,") and you take the long way on the walk to work. The days are longer, and taking a walk in the pink glow of another beautiful sunset at 9 p.m. becomes a favourite ritual. A stopover at the park on the way home takes priority to housework.

In summer, there are patios, mohitos (with breakfast!) and cute sundresses. There are days spent lounging by the lake and nights around a cozy campfire.

For me, the best part about summer is lying in bed at night, listening to cars go by the open window. Falling asleep to the hum of frogs and crickets while a light breeze gently fans the linen curtains.



There's also the sweatbands. Dear jesus don't forget the sweatbands. 

Happy Summer you guys! Go enjoy.















Keds

I received this email from my Aunt Mare one morning this week.

Hi!

 I got a new pair of white Keds tonight (first new pair in many years).

I have them on with my housecoat right now.

They are making me think of Mary McGossie and Nana and summers at Nellie and your mom and you two while you were growing up.

Wonderful memories are gliding through my mind and I have a big smile on my face.

Just thought I would share the feeling…

I love you.

Mare

xoxo

I have a pair of navy blue Keds, but I never realized that they make me think of all of these things too. Along with my Grandma Weber, scurrying around the kitchen, preparing a monumental lunch that would pass as a supper in any other household. Hers might have been slightly soil-stained, having just picked the tomatoes and cucumbers that are now sitting on the table. 



Amazing what memories inanimate objects can stir up. Amazing what a pair of shoes can do. 

Thanks Aunt Mare. You totally made my day.

Maria and Charlie

Last weekend was the first of three weddings for us this summer. I had been so looking forward to it, and it didn't disappoint. I guess the only way a wedding can really be disappointing is if the bride doesn't show. There's a story somewhere about a bride who, maybe trying to ease her wedding day jitters said jokingly "I don't" during the vows. The wedding had to be stopped immediately and postponed for 6 months. All of the guests were sent home. The sad thing is, while reading it I was thinking duuuude. I could TOTALLY see myself doing something super dumb like that while trying to get a chuckle out of my guests. 



Luckily for them and all of us, Maria and Charlie did say "I do", and it was beautiful.

When I lived in North Bay, I worked in a dental office as a receptionist for about

a year. Maria was the office manager, and kind of my mentor (don't tell her I said that.) I called her my "North Bay Mama," because she really took care of me. Actually, she really took care of all of her girls in that office. I once had a cough that wouldn't go away.

"I called the clinic," said Maria, all business. "Go down there and get checked out and don't come back."

She either really loved me or was REALLY annoyed by my constant hacking. I'm gonna go with option A (I was just at her wedding, after all.)

Maria and Charlie love to entertain. And they are so much fun. Looking at them, how they interacted, I always thought "I want to meet someone who loves being around people and having fun as much as I do." One night, I went to their place for dinner. I don't remember what we ate, but I do remember Charlie's margaritas. And a lot of laughing. I had to call my sister to come and pick me up that night. I'm pretty sure they pulled her in too for a drink. That's just the kind of people they are - always up for a laugh and some groovy times. 



 

Since it was their second marriage, it was understated and lovely. Maria's son Brady gave her away. The ceremony was sweet and full of love. The reception was a great time. In a surprising twist of fate, I snatched the bouquet out of thin air (ok, so I saw the wink Maria threw me before she tossed it.)



I got to see some of my favourite people, and the love between Charlie and Maria was palpable. It was one of those weddings where it's totally, 100% clear that these two are perfect for each other. 



Congratulations, Maria and Charlie.

Why I hate the playoffs

I come home from work. Climb into the roomate's lap. He looks annoyed and tries to placate me. A small hug and a pat on the back. He pushes me to the side on the couch. 

I am relentless. I am not going to let a little hockey game ruin my evening. 

He looks over. Double take. Look of disgust. 

"Put your shirt down. There's a hockey game on." Looks back at the TV. 

I'm shocked. Granted, I don't have much in that department but come on. 

"Really?!" I say, laughing. "REALLY!?!?"

"It's game FOUR of the FINALS!"

I can't freakin' wait for the hockey season to be over. Baseball is much easier to distract from.

The part where I should get all offended but don't because I know deep down he's absolutely freakin right

As you read this, I am snuggled under a blanket, sipping hot water with honey and lemon, hopped up on cough syrup. A vapourizer huffs and puffs beside me. By the end of the day, the house will likely smell of sickness - a smell I can't stand. I have had some sort of cold virus all week, which has led to my first ever case of laryngitis. Hold up...before you leave, this isn't going to be one of those posts (or uber long Facebook statuses) outlining all of my symptoms and lamenting on all of the things I cannot do because I am sick. I'm not asking for your sympathy (hell, I know I've got that already, what with all my secret posts about the man who has led me to believe he's my father.) 

So here I am, all full of laryngitis. Yesterday, I woke up feeling a little hoarse (as opposed to feeling a little horse, which would have been way cooler.) My dad came to visit and commented on how ridiculous I sounded with my "new laugh" - a high-pitched yet throaty squeak.

"Stop laughing like that," he demanded. "You sound silly." 

"I think I sound kinda sexy," I relented. "I wish my voice always sounded like this. Now where do you want to go next? Home Depot? The book store? We've got a lot of shopping to do and then we have to go home and hang my flower baskets and put up my new curtains and I have to put fresh sheets on the bed. What do you want to talk about now? Have you heard about Fifty Shades of Grey? It's this super-erotic new book that everyone's talking about. I think I'm going to buy a copy."

This morning, the Universe is telling me to just go ahead and shut the hell up.

The only sound able to cross my lips is a whisper. According to Dr. Internet, I have acute laryngitis, and I should try to rest my vocal chords today - not even whisper. Which also means no coughing, singing, reciting poetry, or yelling at my teammates during the softball game tonight. Do you have any IDEA how hard this is for me?

You know who's going to be sitting pretty though? The roomate. 

After waking up this morning and making the startling discovery that I was temporarily mute, I texted him to tell him the tragic news.

Me: OMG. It's gotten worse. I can't talk at all now. NO SOUNDS WHATSOEVER.

Him: OMG. DREAMS DO COME TRUE!

You guys? You know that Honeymoon Period, which usually lasts from the first three to six months of a new relationship, causing everything to appear rosy and no harsh words to be spoken between two lovers?

I think ours is officially over.