i just realized that i was tagged by kristen at inspired by dooce and it is perfect timing as i am sitting in a hotel lobby in accra waiting for a driver to collect me to transfer to another hotel (because as much as i love Villa Monticello where i have spent the last two nights, it is a bit pricey for me to stay for the next 3 nights i have in ghana and this was a birthday gift, a most wonderful birthday gift!)
i am not going to tag other people because as a Bad Blogger, it would be a bit rude of me to expect others to complete this, but i love lists, i love reading random things about other people, and i like answering them. so if you do answer any of kristen's (or nicole's, who i don't even know) questions, leave a link as i'd love to read them!
11 Random Things about Me
1. i have really big feet for being only 5'2"
2. my sneezes are loud. so loud that people often comment on them.
3. i love taking long haul flights alone, i find it is a great time to think, catch up on reading, listen to music, be alone. i hope they never introduce wireless to the flights i take as i think it would ruin it for me as i like being disconnected.
4. i live with a general level of anxiety that would probably surprise most people.
5. i am not very good at watching tv, i have to be doing something else at the same time, reading a magazine, looking at the internet, or talking (which apparently annoys some people!).
6. i love running outdoors, but sometimes struggle to motivate myself to do it. but i don't like running races as there are too many people and too much pressure for me (which could be linked to #4 above).
7. i live in monrovia, the capital city of liberia. i suppose that isn't too random to most people that i know as i have been here for 4 months now, but i suppose it could be considered random because what is a canadian girl doing living in a small west african country?? i moved here to live with my boyfriend is the answer.
8. i don't know what i want to be when i grow up and i wonder if i will ever know. instead of trying to figure it out, i think i will try and focus on accepting it and seeing it as a positive rather than a negative.
9. i would like to do a phd one day. and recently, i may have come up with an idea for a research topic.
10. i went on a solo vacation to spain about 7 months ago to figure out my life. apparently that meant starting a relationship with someone i already knew who came from the uk for a mini break and moving to liberia a few months later.
11. i have spent 4 birthdays and 3 christmases in africa.
Nicole's Questions
1. How many languages do you speak? What are they?
english and spanish and that could likely use some refreshing. i wish i spoke french and have tried to learn it, but never consistently and regularly.
2. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
the side that is closest to the wall currently, but if i had it my way, i would sleep diagonally and take up the entire bed with 4 pillows arranged in a 'v' around my head. yes, i have given this some thought and have developed a system that i prefer.
3. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
i would like to think a bit of both. i like to get a start on my day, but i also love sleeping until about 9 if i can. i tend to be rather productive in the evenings if i am not too tired from waking up too early. what i do know is that i need my sleep so if i am up early, i am down early and vice versa.
4. What's your biggest time waster?
the internet and tv when i have it
5. Mac or PC?
mac. i converted about a year and a half ago and love it (and my ipad and iphone!)
6. Can you drive a standard transmission car?
you bet and i have never owned a car that wasn't manual, i prefer it.
7. Where did you go on your last trip?
i am on right now in accra, ghana. and before this one, it was to dar es salaam, tanzania.
8. What's your favourite game (board or video)?
i like all board games that i have played (but i have 2 rules when playing: if you are not playing the game (mom!) then don't help anyone playing and if you start a game, you should finish it!), but i really like scrabble and anything that involves groups of people and lots of laughs.
9. Did you play any sports growing up?
when i was wee, i played soccer then i figure skated.
10. What's your favourite number and why?
22 and i am not sure why. i like things that are even and i like that 22 divided is 11 and 1 + 1 = 2 and so on.
11. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
i would like to live in london, bangkok, cape town, berlin, dar es salaam, nairobi... i think the more interesting part is where i will end up living in a year's time.
Kristen's Questions
1- When you're in a job interview, what do you use as your "weakness"? (you know, the weakness that you can turn into a positive somehow)
i don't like to delegate things to other people and i like to have control over all aspects of the work that i am involved in. to be honest, i am not sure i would ever phrase it like that in a job interview, but if i did, i would say that it is because i have high expectations that my work will be delivered to a high standard of quality and on time.
2- What is your favourite food?
i am not sure. i love macaroni and canned tomatoes because it is a comfort food from when i was kid, same with a roast beef dinner. i would like to say that i have a favourite food place and that is san sebastian, spain. so if something can come with the quality and deliciousness of san sebastian, i will love it.
3- Why did you start blogging?
i was living in the uk studying my masters degree and it was a good way to keep in touch with friends and family back home without sending out the mass emails that were all about me, which is obnoxious. i guess a blog is somewhere people can visit to see what i am up to.
4- If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go?
i've always wanted to visit brazil, argentina, and india.
5- If you're a runner, biker, triathlete, or any other sort of racer, what race is tops on your bucket list?
i don't like races.
6- What is your dream job? (pretending that it pays well)
ha, i answered the question above about how i don't know what i want to be when i grow up. but i would like to be a professor or an advisor to a private company or a donor on how to spend their money and which projects are worth supporting.
7- Who is your celebrity crush?
apart from David Suzuki in his younger years?! i think that Mike Rowe, Gabriel Garcia Bernal, Hugh Jackman, and Taye Diggs are all quite dreamy.
8- Did you or do you play an instrument?
no, but i think the drums could be fun.
9- What is your favourite "guilty pleasure" movie? (you know, the one that you like to pretend you didn't love)
Love Actually and i watch it every christmas! i just can't get enough.
10- If you had to pick a last meal, what would you pick?
macaroni and tomatoes
11- Ben and Jerry's or Haagen Dazs?
neither as ice cream gives me a stomach ache (coincidentally, this is also the google search that leads to this blog most often so i am obviously not alone)
Showing posts with label links. Show all posts
Showing posts with label links. Show all posts
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Thursday, December 08, 2011
to town we go
i can be as guilty as the next traveller/expat of wanting to have a unique and 'authentic' experience when i am in a new country and yet i recognize that even seeking this out takes away its authenticity and leaves you constantly feeling as you didn't do enough, see enough, photograph enough.
and there are those instances that remind me that authentic experiences are authentic because they just happen. and they just happen when you are open to them and others.
a bit trite, perhaps, but seems to hold true where ever i have been in the world.
yesterday was one of those 'authentic' days that i will likely cherish. and largely because it felt so... normal.
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| motorcycle taxi driver (with sunglasses, of course!)
mary had agreed to take me to the waterside market in monrovia to buy lapas, the brightly printed (and ironically, printed in china) fabrics west africa is known for. as much as i wanted to add to my collection and feed my addiction to fabric, i also wanted to hang out with mary and have her show me around town.
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the first decision was how we would get there. the shared taxis were an option, but we decided to spring for the motorcycle taxis at double the price because they are faster and a lot more comfortable, especially if you don't have to share one. mary hailed them down and we got on. she told me later that she was a little nervous when she couldn't see me, but she needn't worry as the only thing that i had to fend off was another motorcycle's passengers, two men who were fighting over talking to me every chance they got (in the middle of the road!). it is times like these i need something that resembles a wedding ring in my back pocket.
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| bustling water street, with wheel barrows for hire |
waterside is less of a market and more of a number of streets lined with vendors selling anything you need of your house. much of the clothing and housewares were used, but there appeared to have been a large shipment of chinese shoes and they were laid out nicely for passersby to take a look. the thought occurred to me a number of times that all those people at home who think donating t shirts and shoes to 'africa' are unaware they are being sold by the bundle and sold on the streets (in fact, there is a documentary made on this very topic: T Shirt Travels).
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| merry christmas! |
it seemed as though mary knew a number of people around and we had to make several stops to say hello, but it turns out that she used to work there selling food so still knows many of the salespeople and shop owners. i clearly stuck out, but didn't feel out of place or uncomfortable. it is a pretty broad statement, but i have found monrovians very welcoming and kind to me. but i would be lying if i said i was a lot less worried about getting lost or ripped off by having mary with me.
like much of the rest of the shops i have seen, many were owned by lebanese people. we poked our heads into the ones selling lapas and i found 12 yards of fabric that i plan on using for sheets and cushions. coincidentally, i got the number of a wonderful tailor today who can hopefully help me out because although learning how to sew (and quilt!) is something i would love to do, i am without a sewing machine.
it is tough to visualize what the fabric will look like as it is overwhelming to see so many patterns at once. and sometimes is very dim light while you are sweating buckets in the stuffy shops. i picked out some more basic patterns although i might go back for the 'obama' print, which was rather lovely even if it did not have any images of obama on it at all.
in fact, there are some ma ellen prints i have seen around and like the nelson mandela cloth i bought in south africa, i might pick some up just for the laugh and memories of the time i am here.
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| lapas - the purpose of our journey |
as i was unfolding and feeling all the fabric, mary was checking out the shoe selection and making sure my bags didn't get too heavy to carry. one of my favourite parts of monrovia is the shop signs that are painted on the outer walls of buildings. i hope to gain more confidence in bringing my camera along to take more photos next time i go to town, but this time i just took some snaps on my phone (which, by the way, have you downloaded the camera+ app yet?! amazing.)
after a wander around, we caught more motorcycle taxis on the way back. this time, my driver was a shyster and made us pay too much and since we had two drivers, the second being a honest guy, i paid him the same exorbitant rate that the first demanded before taking my money, refusing to give change, and driving off. i have no idea if he thought he could rip us off because of where he dropped us off, who he was carrying, or just because he was an ass, but neither mary nor i were impressed. we were also nearly melting so we didn't bother too much and came inside to share a can of coke (which is still one of the most refreshing beverages when it is so hot out!).
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| this is what i look like on the back of a motorcycle taxi, if ever you wondered |
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
watch this space (and that one over there, too)
it appears that my return to blogging has coincided nicely with a new initiative of j at tales from the hood (a blog that you should be reading if you want to learn anything about international development and humanitarian aid). check out the details of his Aid Blog Forum and participate if you have anything to say.
the first topic up for discussion is Corporate Social Responsibility. this also happens to be the field i have been working in for 3 years so i am just working through some thoughts in hopes of coming up with something coherent. by tomorrow because there is also a DEADLINE. and if you want to get my to do anything, the way forward is to give me a DEADLINE so i can procrastinate my way towards it and ultimately, get it done.
also, i am really sick of looking at this blog's design and am sort of sick of having the word 'blogspot' in its title. must think on that too.
(seems my return to blogging has taken the 'then i had a pb&j sandwich for lunch and then i had a really hot coffee and then...' format. will work on that.)
the first topic up for discussion is Corporate Social Responsibility. this also happens to be the field i have been working in for 3 years so i am just working through some thoughts in hopes of coming up with something coherent. by tomorrow because there is also a DEADLINE. and if you want to get my to do anything, the way forward is to give me a DEADLINE so i can procrastinate my way towards it and ultimately, get it done.
also, i am really sick of looking at this blog's design and am sort of sick of having the word 'blogspot' in its title. must think on that too.
(seems my return to blogging has taken the 'then i had a pb&j sandwich for lunch and then i had a really hot coffee and then...' format. will work on that.)
Monday, March 28, 2011
vote compass
i am sure there will be detractors somewhere that will say that this is unscientific or overly simplified, but i think that the vote compass on the cbc website is one of many tools that we can use during this election season to figure out who we are going to vote for. if we didn't know before.
i did the questionnaire and wasn't terribly surprised with the results, but what i loved was that you can go through your answers and see where you compare to each of the 5 federal political parties.
there were a few of the questions that i had no opinion on and a few that would have more weight in my final decision, but i think that this is a great tool, especially if you are wondering who will get your vote this may!
let's get voting!
i did the questionnaire and wasn't terribly surprised with the results, but what i loved was that you can go through your answers and see where you compare to each of the 5 federal political parties.
there were a few of the questions that i had no opinion on and a few that would have more weight in my final decision, but i think that this is a great tool, especially if you are wondering who will get your vote this may!
let's get voting!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
getting serious?
not sure what my globe and mail horoscope refers to, apart from the person i am semi-stalking on twitter!
AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19):
You seem unable to decide whether to get serious about a relationship or whether to keep it at arm’s length. You will have to decide one way or the other by the end of the week, but for now just keep thinking.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
what a weekend
with weekends like the past two i have had in calgary, i could be convinced never to leave the city.
my weekend started a little early with a shopping trip that ended with new sweaters, a dress i can wear to a stampede festivity this july, tights that remind me eerily of my figure skating days, new fashionable belts, a few little things for my future niece, and a feather for my hair.
i got to try out the new kol3 in kensington for vietnamese crepes and iced coffees with a good friend i met through my current job. and we followed it up with a cold beer at molly malone's to continue our conversation about all things relationships, career directions, house shopping, women's rights, office gossip... not sure that we solved the world's problems, but we certainly had a great time catching up.
saturday morning was chillier than i had hoped, with spring shyly poking its head around the corner this past week, so after running back into my house to add a layer, i headed out for a lovely morning run. even though there was some pesky ice on the pathways, i had a great run paired with non-stop chatting with a dear friend facing some pretty daunting challenges at the moment. more listening than talking on my part, but that was just fine.
i headed out to my neighbourhood pub on saturday evening with a new chum from work to see a local band play. the band was pretty medium, but the company and laughs were pretty awesome. getting a taxi home at the end of the night when the snow started falling, not so awesome.
and today, a day of phone calls and catching up with friends far away and family nearby was followed by some comfort cooking. after stirring and stirring and adding and adding liquid, i created a most delicious risotto paired with homemade pesto that i whipped up in my food processor (without cutting my finger this time). i needed some time in the kitchen to relax and forget momentarily about the state of the world, which was weighing heavily on my shoulders after following the stories of cote d'ivoire, japan, libya, yemen, bahrain, and haiti on twitter and the news this past week. sometimes having a constant stream of information can work against your sanity and sense of contentment and if there is a silver lining in this cloud it is that i am getting better at recognising when that is happening to me so i can take a step back. and that is what i did tonight with fantastic results and a lot of leftovers!
the need for distance and perspective is at the heart of my intentions in giving up impatience for lent. it has been a good practice thus far and i have not only recognised when i begin to get antsy or worrisome about my future, but have reminded myself not to allow that anxiety to creep in and that if i really want to worry, i can do it in a few short weeks. reshaping my thinking around my future and how i can get so anxious about it has also helped me appreciate what i do have. the grass might be greener for me elsewhere, but it is pretty damn green where i am right now as well. and having a weekend full of pretty wonderful friends is part of that.
my weekend started a little early with a shopping trip that ended with new sweaters, a dress i can wear to a stampede festivity this july, tights that remind me eerily of my figure skating days, new fashionable belts, a few little things for my future niece, and a feather for my hair.
i got to try out the new kol3 in kensington for vietnamese crepes and iced coffees with a good friend i met through my current job. and we followed it up with a cold beer at molly malone's to continue our conversation about all things relationships, career directions, house shopping, women's rights, office gossip... not sure that we solved the world's problems, but we certainly had a great time catching up.
saturday morning was chillier than i had hoped, with spring shyly poking its head around the corner this past week, so after running back into my house to add a layer, i headed out for a lovely morning run. even though there was some pesky ice on the pathways, i had a great run paired with non-stop chatting with a dear friend facing some pretty daunting challenges at the moment. more listening than talking on my part, but that was just fine.
i headed out to my neighbourhood pub on saturday evening with a new chum from work to see a local band play. the band was pretty medium, but the company and laughs were pretty awesome. getting a taxi home at the end of the night when the snow started falling, not so awesome.
and today, a day of phone calls and catching up with friends far away and family nearby was followed by some comfort cooking. after stirring and stirring and adding and adding liquid, i created a most delicious risotto paired with homemade pesto that i whipped up in my food processor (without cutting my finger this time). i needed some time in the kitchen to relax and forget momentarily about the state of the world, which was weighing heavily on my shoulders after following the stories of cote d'ivoire, japan, libya, yemen, bahrain, and haiti on twitter and the news this past week. sometimes having a constant stream of information can work against your sanity and sense of contentment and if there is a silver lining in this cloud it is that i am getting better at recognising when that is happening to me so i can take a step back. and that is what i did tonight with fantastic results and a lot of leftovers!
the need for distance and perspective is at the heart of my intentions in giving up impatience for lent. it has been a good practice thus far and i have not only recognised when i begin to get antsy or worrisome about my future, but have reminded myself not to allow that anxiety to creep in and that if i really want to worry, i can do it in a few short weeks. reshaping my thinking around my future and how i can get so anxious about it has also helped me appreciate what i do have. the grass might be greener for me elsewhere, but it is pretty damn green where i am right now as well. and having a weekend full of pretty wonderful friends is part of that.
Monday, March 14, 2011
wherein i use a few caps
ever since i woke up on january 1, 2011, i have felt a change a'coming. i have no idea what it will be nor when it will come, but i feel ready for it.
going to new york inspired me to get my arse in gear to get out into the world again and find something else to to for a little while. to not be afraid to leave the comforts of my home town again and to explore a little more, knowing that there is a whole lot of awesome to come home to anytime i choose. the beauty of an economy fuelled by a commodity-driven industry that is on the up once again, i suppose.
i cleaned out my closets, giving away a bunch of stuff and consigning some others (wherein i chose not to consign my clothes at one shop because they give all the unsold merchandise to an 'orphanage in africa' and couldn't answer me which of the 50+ countries they were referring to nor why they made the orphanage pay for the shipping of the clothes to their magical unnamable part of the continent). i updated my vaccines, passing out in the process, so that if i feed the urge to up and leave to a yellow feverish place, i will be covered (in fact, the reason i am up right now, even though it is midnight and i have a week full of early morning and it is the day of the year that daylight savings kicks your ass is because i forgot i have to take a live typhoid vaccine on an empty stomach and well, my stomach is not empty.
i have also decided to give up impatience and self doubt for lent. yes, i know this is not in the typical spirit of lent, but i needed a time frame and well, it was conveniently timely (is saying conveniently timely redundant??). i am reminding myself that everything has worked out thus far and will continue to do so, in a time frame that is never going to end or stop and as i have always said, there is no finish line and the whole success is not a destination thing (i think you can find some lame quote from me on the interwebs about that, actually).
i am trying to remember that an opportunity will come my way. no sense in worrying or fretting that time is passing me by (I AM GETTING OLDER, OH MY GOD, I AM BEHIND... you get the idea). if the past two years are any indication, opportunities find me and i do my best to put myself right in their path as best i can. i feel as though i have done that now and so now i just wait.
but waiting is not so bad. last week i braved the -20* temperatures and went to the joshua radin, cary brothers, laura jansen show and it was amazing. as i said on twitter, it made me want to fall in love and break up again and again. well, not really, but they sure did make it sound poetic and romantic and wonderful and heart wrenching. and a concert at the former silver dollar action centre? not so bad, especially if you like a little greasy pizza with your handsome singer/songwriters.
i followed that up with so many pints, breakfasts, coffees, and dinners with so many inspiring, intelligent, and hilarious people this past week that i was pleasantly reminded that i am surrounded by a community of people and i have a few greatest fans out there, which is always a nice boost to the confidence.
oh, and i ate at boxwood, which was a chorizon/polenta delight, had breakfast at wake in kensington, where they brew a strong cup of coffee and make mean eggs benedict, and had a perfectly poured latte at vendome cafe. so if you are in the city, go try those newcomers to the ever expanding culinary/coffeehouse scene around these parts.
going to new york inspired me to get my arse in gear to get out into the world again and find something else to to for a little while. to not be afraid to leave the comforts of my home town again and to explore a little more, knowing that there is a whole lot of awesome to come home to anytime i choose. the beauty of an economy fuelled by a commodity-driven industry that is on the up once again, i suppose.
i cleaned out my closets, giving away a bunch of stuff and consigning some others (wherein i chose not to consign my clothes at one shop because they give all the unsold merchandise to an 'orphanage in africa' and couldn't answer me which of the 50+ countries they were referring to nor why they made the orphanage pay for the shipping of the clothes to their magical unnamable part of the continent). i updated my vaccines, passing out in the process, so that if i feed the urge to up and leave to a yellow feverish place, i will be covered (in fact, the reason i am up right now, even though it is midnight and i have a week full of early morning and it is the day of the year that daylight savings kicks your ass is because i forgot i have to take a live typhoid vaccine on an empty stomach and well, my stomach is not empty.
i have also decided to give up impatience and self doubt for lent. yes, i know this is not in the typical spirit of lent, but i needed a time frame and well, it was conveniently timely (is saying conveniently timely redundant??). i am reminding myself that everything has worked out thus far and will continue to do so, in a time frame that is never going to end or stop and as i have always said, there is no finish line and the whole success is not a destination thing (i think you can find some lame quote from me on the interwebs about that, actually).
i am trying to remember that an opportunity will come my way. no sense in worrying or fretting that time is passing me by (I AM GETTING OLDER, OH MY GOD, I AM BEHIND... you get the idea). if the past two years are any indication, opportunities find me and i do my best to put myself right in their path as best i can. i feel as though i have done that now and so now i just wait.
but waiting is not so bad. last week i braved the -20* temperatures and went to the joshua radin, cary brothers, laura jansen show and it was amazing. as i said on twitter, it made me want to fall in love and break up again and again. well, not really, but they sure did make it sound poetic and romantic and wonderful and heart wrenching. and a concert at the former silver dollar action centre? not so bad, especially if you like a little greasy pizza with your handsome singer/songwriters.
i followed that up with so many pints, breakfasts, coffees, and dinners with so many inspiring, intelligent, and hilarious people this past week that i was pleasantly reminded that i am surrounded by a community of people and i have a few greatest fans out there, which is always a nice boost to the confidence.
oh, and i ate at boxwood, which was a chorizon/polenta delight, had breakfast at wake in kensington, where they brew a strong cup of coffee and make mean eggs benedict, and had a perfectly poured latte at vendome cafe. so if you are in the city, go try those newcomers to the ever expanding culinary/coffeehouse scene around these parts.
Monday, March 07, 2011
a nyc success
hello internet!
yes, i am still around and apparently still have a blog. i have been spending a lot of my internetting time on twitter lately, so if you haven't already found me there, go on and do it now. it feels a bit like the lazy person's blog, but i also sort of love it, especially as i had been on a bit of a soap box with all my sharing links and it is a great platform for that.
let's get back to that trip i took to new york city though. and how amazing it was. i felt quite at home in a way, in a city where it seems everyone belongs, which i hadn't felt in some time. and i just enjoyed it. the along time to sit and think and walk and think and just be and think was much needed.
it was a little chilly for me, but i managed to bundle up and hit the pavement. i did a few touristy things that i suppose someone out there would say that you 'have to do' like thetop of the rock, which was over priced, but did offer a good view of the city at sunset. one of my favourite things was the greenwich village food tour operated by foods of new york. not only delicious, but really interesting and well worth the money. i also went on a walking tour with the lower east side history project, also fascinating. and it all was made more relevant because, like the dork i am, i was reading the historical fiction creatively titled new york that covered the various periods of the city and historical events that shaped the city and its communities. a good historical account of the city, if not a little long.
i also had the opportunity to meet up with friends and friends (and in one case, an ex girlfriend of a friend) and although it could have felt like an awkward blind date, each of the three women i met up with for a day of sightseeing and photo-adventuring, coffee in midtown, or dinner and drinks in the village were absolutely delightful. it was with these awesome canadians abroad that i rode the staten island ferry to see the statue of liberty (she's so tiny!), got the perspective of a student and a lawyer working in the city, and ate at the most delightful french bistro whose name i have forgotten, but really wanted to link so i will try and recall it in the coming days and update this.
new york is certainly a place that i could imagine living one day and one that was not nearly as intimidating as i had thought it would be. i even made friends with an eye doctor and his staff as we bonded over the edmonton oilers (even though i am decidedly not a fan and he certainly is) and got a brand new pair of specs that just arrived in the mail last week.
my apologies for the disjointed post, but i wanted to have some sort of documentation that i in fact did go to new york, did love it, and can't wait to go back.
and here i had hoped blogger would've made it easier to upload and format photos, sheesh. they are all over the place!
yes, i am still around and apparently still have a blog. i have been spending a lot of my internetting time on twitter lately, so if you haven't already found me there, go on and do it now. it feels a bit like the lazy person's blog, but i also sort of love it, especially as i had been on a bit of a soap box with all my sharing links and it is a great platform for that.
let's get back to that trip i took to new york city though. and how amazing it was. i felt quite at home in a way, in a city where it seems everyone belongs, which i hadn't felt in some time. and i just enjoyed it. the along time to sit and think and walk and think and just be and think was much needed.
it was a little chilly for me, but i managed to bundle up and hit the pavement. i did a few touristy things that i suppose someone out there would say that you 'have to do' like thetop of the rock, which was over priced, but did offer a good view of the city at sunset. one of my favourite things was the greenwich village food tour operated by foods of new york. not only delicious, but really interesting and well worth the money. i also went on a walking tour with the lower east side history project, also fascinating. and it all was made more relevant because, like the dork i am, i was reading the historical fiction creatively titled new york that covered the various periods of the city and historical events that shaped the city and its communities. a good historical account of the city, if not a little long.
i also had the opportunity to meet up with friends and friends (and in one case, an ex girlfriend of a friend) and although it could have felt like an awkward blind date, each of the three women i met up with for a day of sightseeing and photo-adventuring, coffee in midtown, or dinner and drinks in the village were absolutely delightful. it was with these awesome canadians abroad that i rode the staten island ferry to see the statue of liberty (she's so tiny!), got the perspective of a student and a lawyer working in the city, and ate at the most delightful french bistro whose name i have forgotten, but really wanted to link so i will try and recall it in the coming days and update this.
new york is certainly a place that i could imagine living one day and one that was not nearly as intimidating as i had thought it would be. i even made friends with an eye doctor and his staff as we bonded over the edmonton oilers (even though i am decidedly not a fan and he certainly is) and got a brand new pair of specs that just arrived in the mail last week.
and here i had hoped blogger would've made it easier to upload and format photos, sheesh. they are all over the place!
Sunday, February 06, 2011
stuck in chicago
but hopefully not for long!
just a little weather delay, i hope.
one of my biggest irritations about canadians is their belief that they can somehow speak really derogatorily about americans as though we are inherently better by the simple fact that we are not americans. it is lame and goes against all that we like to pride ourselves on as canadians.
but. but, i have been at the chicago airport for only a few hours and i am already finding myself want to assert my canadian-ness. either by being overly polite or enunciating my words or refraining from overusing the word 'like' in conversation.
i am not quite sure why. i hope it is not coming from the same place that allows canadians to get smug and self righteous.
and a real shame that i couldn't have planned with this delay in mind because they i could've wandered out of security and visited one of my favourite chicago residents!
just a little weather delay, i hope.
one of my biggest irritations about canadians is their belief that they can somehow speak really derogatorily about americans as though we are inherently better by the simple fact that we are not americans. it is lame and goes against all that we like to pride ourselves on as canadians.
but. but, i have been at the chicago airport for only a few hours and i am already finding myself want to assert my canadian-ness. either by being overly polite or enunciating my words or refraining from overusing the word 'like' in conversation.
i am not quite sure why. i hope it is not coming from the same place that allows canadians to get smug and self righteous.
and a real shame that i couldn't have planned with this delay in mind because they i could've wandered out of security and visited one of my favourite chicago residents!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
new york recommendations, please!
i have been negligent in my trip planning, which is rather unlike me as i typically spend more time planning for a trip than actually on a trip. call it a hobby, if you will.
and now i am need of a) a place to stay in about the ~$100/night range that offers a fantastic location, good atmosphere, the opportunity to meet people, and enough space that my 5'2" frame can sleep comfortably. b) ideas on places to eat that are absolutely delicious, not particularly fancy or expensive, but just tasty. c) your thoughts on what attractions/sights/museums/events that are not worth my time/money/energy.
for instance, if you were going to travel to san francisco on your own i would offer you the following advice:
a) stay at the mosser where you might have to share a bathroom, but the rates are completely manageable, and the location is ideal.
b) i would insist that you go to the ferry building martketplace and sample the delicious fish tacos at taylor's automatic refresher (which, a google search tells me has been rebranded as gott's roadside, but i would still insist you eat there because its owners are the same), have a pannacotta at miette, and a cup of coffee at blue bottle coffee. i would also suggest grabbing a newspaper and hitting the neighbourhood of north beach to savour something on a cafe's brunch menu while you people watch. and i would also suggest going to knob hill for a cappuccino and to poke around the boutiques. eat anything mexican, mexican sounding or otherwise latino in mission and make a stop at tropisueno for more authentic mexican food.
c) i would suggest that you make fisherman's wharf your last stop and fit it in only if you need to kill some time, do alcatraz if you really love prisons, self guided tours, or really chilly boat rides, and give the bridge a miss unless you need to see the thing up close.
how do you feel about new york city? i have 5 days to bust a move about town after spending a week on long island holed up in a conference facility, no where to stay, no itinerary as yet, and a whole lot of scarves to wear to keep warm during february.
and now i am need of a) a place to stay in about the ~$100/night range that offers a fantastic location, good atmosphere, the opportunity to meet people, and enough space that my 5'2" frame can sleep comfortably. b) ideas on places to eat that are absolutely delicious, not particularly fancy or expensive, but just tasty. c) your thoughts on what attractions/sights/museums/events that are not worth my time/money/energy.
for instance, if you were going to travel to san francisco on your own i would offer you the following advice:
a) stay at the mosser where you might have to share a bathroom, but the rates are completely manageable, and the location is ideal.
b) i would insist that you go to the ferry building martketplace and sample the delicious fish tacos at taylor's automatic refresher (which, a google search tells me has been rebranded as gott's roadside, but i would still insist you eat there because its owners are the same), have a pannacotta at miette, and a cup of coffee at blue bottle coffee. i would also suggest grabbing a newspaper and hitting the neighbourhood of north beach to savour something on a cafe's brunch menu while you people watch. and i would also suggest going to knob hill for a cappuccino and to poke around the boutiques. eat anything mexican, mexican sounding or otherwise latino in mission and make a stop at tropisueno for more authentic mexican food.
c) i would suggest that you make fisherman's wharf your last stop and fit it in only if you need to kill some time, do alcatraz if you really love prisons, self guided tours, or really chilly boat rides, and give the bridge a miss unless you need to see the thing up close.
how do you feel about new york city? i have 5 days to bust a move about town after spending a week on long island holed up in a conference facility, no where to stay, no itinerary as yet, and a whole lot of scarves to wear to keep warm during february.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
'adhd hadn't been invented in the 1930s'
yes, i am indeed compiling a report of an 8 member team, much of it monotonous, mindnumbing desk work that i cannot concentrate on exclusively.
thus, another great ted recommendation. (and yes, i realise that you could just as easily go to the ted website yourself, but as this is my blog, i am also using this as a place to record interesting bits of the www that i might want to revisit one day).
Ken Robinson should be a stand up comedian. but instead, he is an expert on creativity and a ted fellow. you might enjoy what he has to say about the way that schools are crushing our creativity, i certainly did!
thus, another great ted recommendation. (and yes, i realise that you could just as easily go to the ted website yourself, but as this is my blog, i am also using this as a place to record interesting bits of the www that i might want to revisit one day).
Ken Robinson should be a stand up comedian. but instead, he is an expert on creativity and a ted fellow. you might enjoy what he has to say about the way that schools are crushing our creativity, i certainly did!
a reminder to myself and others
this ted talk by Jonathan Haidt on the moral roots of liberals and conservatives is a good reminder that when we break down our differences into a simple matrix of what 'we' believe and how 'they' are wrong, we all loose.
i often need this reminder, perhaps more than most people. especially today when i received an email from a volunteer telling me about the trip her church is about to take to bring their youth group to a developing country and 'visit with the victims of trafficking staying in a rescue centre' as an educational opportunity.
blah. i may not be right all the time, but i feel quite justified in saying that reeks of another form of exploitation and although it is not as traumatic as the first likely was, it will still have lasting impacts on a macro level. ew.
i often need this reminder, perhaps more than most people. especially today when i received an email from a volunteer telling me about the trip her church is about to take to bring their youth group to a developing country and 'visit with the victims of trafficking staying in a rescue centre' as an educational opportunity.
blah. i may not be right all the time, but i feel quite justified in saying that reeks of another form of exploitation and although it is not as traumatic as the first likely was, it will still have lasting impacts on a macro level. ew.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
ted on a tuesday
you know it is a rather monotonous day of work when i come up with more ted talk recommendations.
as my go to website that i am allowed to stream video from at work (there are not many), ted has a few gems up on its main page at the moment. take a look if you too need some stimulating background noise to desk work that you are not particularly thrilled about. or if you just want to watch some inspiring talks by two humble individuals.
i love a lady who isn't afraid to drop an eff bomb if it makes her point clear (although she refrains in this talk). peace activists don't always get a lot of credit from the 'establishment,' but i think that Jody Williams can speak their language and to boot, she is not an avowed pacifist. which means she gets my vote. for what, i don't know, but a vote nonetheless.
a canadian kid whose life didn't go quite as he planned (ever heard that one before?) turned it into an internet sensation and then a best selling book. Neil Parischa talks about the As of awesome and how no one is immune to hardship or negative experiences, but that being authentic is one of the ways to get through it. this should be required viewing. for everyone.
as my go to website that i am allowed to stream video from at work (there are not many), ted has a few gems up on its main page at the moment. take a look if you too need some stimulating background noise to desk work that you are not particularly thrilled about. or if you just want to watch some inspiring talks by two humble individuals.
i love a lady who isn't afraid to drop an eff bomb if it makes her point clear (although she refrains in this talk). peace activists don't always get a lot of credit from the 'establishment,' but i think that Jody Williams can speak their language and to boot, she is not an avowed pacifist. which means she gets my vote. for what, i don't know, but a vote nonetheless.
a canadian kid whose life didn't go quite as he planned (ever heard that one before?) turned it into an internet sensation and then a best selling book. Neil Parischa talks about the As of awesome and how no one is immune to hardship or negative experiences, but that being authentic is one of the ways to get through it. this should be required viewing. for everyone.
medium thumb
i saw Black Swan! another movie on my Movies To See 2010 spreadsheet that i created over the holidays (no, i am not kidding). and i did it on the comfort of my own couch (maybe i shouldn't be announcing this on the intertubes, but i just heard on a ted talk that about a bazillion (or maybe something like 15,000?) blogs are started everyday so i am sure my corner of the www is relatively safe from bill gates or whoever it is that patrols the internet looking for people who admit they download and watch pirated movies.
besides, i used to buy this shit at the market in nairobi, which i never saw as being wrong as i was all the way over there in africa (the country), you know.
anywho, back to the movie.
it was ok. it was not fabulous. but i sense that everyone is going to go on and on about how fabulous it is simply because it is raw, interesting to watch, a little bizaare at times, and has a famous actress playing a dark role. and sometimes, that is what art is all about (isn't it?).
the acting is good, i suppose. the costumes and dancing are fun to watch for someone who is addicted to So You Think You Can Dance (but finds the acronym SYTYCD a little cumbersome). the story is lame and never gathers enough steam. and the sex is vulgar and not particularly entertaining.
but the ending is good, so if that is any reason to watch it, there you have it.
i had high hopes and let me just say that i am glad i didn't pay to see it, but that i am glad that i saw it.
besides, i used to buy this shit at the market in nairobi, which i never saw as being wrong as i was all the way over there in africa (the country), you know.
anywho, back to the movie.
it was ok. it was not fabulous. but i sense that everyone is going to go on and on about how fabulous it is simply because it is raw, interesting to watch, a little bizaare at times, and has a famous actress playing a dark role. and sometimes, that is what art is all about (isn't it?).
the acting is good, i suppose. the costumes and dancing are fun to watch for someone who is addicted to So You Think You Can Dance (but finds the acronym SYTYCD a little cumbersome). the story is lame and never gathers enough steam. and the sex is vulgar and not particularly entertaining.
but the ending is good, so if that is any reason to watch it, there you have it.
i had high hopes and let me just say that i am glad i didn't pay to see it, but that i am glad that i saw it.
Friday, January 07, 2011
best movie of the year
ok, so i am not a prolific movie viewer and many of the ones i do see are the only palatable ones offered on my cable provider at home. but i have had a craving for movies in the theatre lately (and not just for the buttery popcorn) and gathered up some friends to see The King's Speech this week.
and it was phenomenal. i call oscar nods for both of colin firth and geoffrey rush. i have never been disappointed by firth or rush and i am convinced that they are so instrumental to this film's success that they deserve all the accolades that come their way.
the story of the british monarchy is fascinating, the cinematography of a post-war london is stunning, and there are more than a few laughs.
i hope you will spend a few hours, watch this movie, and learn a little bit of 20th century european history. awesome.
and it was phenomenal. i call oscar nods for both of colin firth and geoffrey rush. i have never been disappointed by firth or rush and i am convinced that they are so instrumental to this film's success that they deserve all the accolades that come their way.
the story of the british monarchy is fascinating, the cinematography of a post-war london is stunning, and there are more than a few laughs.
i hope you will spend a few hours, watch this movie, and learn a little bit of 20th century european history. awesome.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
holidays are for movie watching
i've seen some movies lately and thought i would share my thoughts in case you, like me, enjoy heading to the theatres over christmas.
first off, The Social Network was really good. dark, but good. of course, i would love to know where the hollywood writers picked up after the trail went cold from mark zuckerberg, but fascinating nonetheless. and if i learned anything it is that harvard as an undergrad would suck and i would likely never feel like i was cool enough, rich enough, or smart enough.
and who knew that sean parker of napster fame was still a part owner of facebook? or that they dropped the 'the'? or that it all began because there actually was something called the facebook at harvard?
one of my bros got Salt for christmas so we piled on to the couch on jesus' birthday and watched the worst version of angelina jolie doing an action film ever. the stunts were way too far fetched to be believable and what could have been an engaging story line (russian sleeper spy emerges to save america and the world) was thin, flat, and had too many loose ends. give it a miss.
The Kids Are All Right has some oscar buzz and a golden globe nomination and it is worth it. a film that makes being gay normal and not glamorous is refreshing. the story is a bit slow and heavy on dialogue, but that is my kind of entertainment. julianna moore and annette bening are unsurprisingly awesome and mark ruffalo is a delight. i am curious to know what next for the family after they go through an affair that shakes their entire foundation. but, like the title suggests, i'm sure the kids will be all right.
i haven't seen many movies this past year, but have started myself an excel spreadsheet to list the titles i want to see. and hopefully while i have some extra time during my mini staycation. interested in what is on my list?
Never Let Me Go
Despicable Me
first off, The Social Network was really good. dark, but good. of course, i would love to know where the hollywood writers picked up after the trail went cold from mark zuckerberg, but fascinating nonetheless. and if i learned anything it is that harvard as an undergrad would suck and i would likely never feel like i was cool enough, rich enough, or smart enough.
and who knew that sean parker of napster fame was still a part owner of facebook? or that they dropped the 'the'? or that it all began because there actually was something called the facebook at harvard?
one of my bros got Salt for christmas so we piled on to the couch on jesus' birthday and watched the worst version of angelina jolie doing an action film ever. the stunts were way too far fetched to be believable and what could have been an engaging story line (russian sleeper spy emerges to save america and the world) was thin, flat, and had too many loose ends. give it a miss.
The Kids Are All Right has some oscar buzz and a golden globe nomination and it is worth it. a film that makes being gay normal and not glamorous is refreshing. the story is a bit slow and heavy on dialogue, but that is my kind of entertainment. julianna moore and annette bening are unsurprisingly awesome and mark ruffalo is a delight. i am curious to know what next for the family after they go through an affair that shakes their entire foundation. but, like the title suggests, i'm sure the kids will be all right.
i haven't seen many movies this past year, but have started myself an excel spreadsheet to list the titles i want to see. and hopefully while i have some extra time during my mini staycation. interested in what is on my list?
Never Let Me Go
Despicable Me
| Black Swan |
| Barney's Version |
| The King's Speech |
| 127 Hours |
| Love and Other Drugs |
| For Colored Girls |
| Little Fockers |
| Blue Valentine |
| Country Strong |
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
more ted to get you through the day
along with being sick at home on monday, i have also had a lot of reporting to do at work, the kind where you can just plug your earphones in and power through it. it is essential to have something interesting to listen to and watch, when you need a break.
and because i just can't keep good ideas to myself, here are a few more ted talks, if you also have some time to kill over the holidays.
sheryl sandberg, the chief operation officer at facebook talks about the three reasons we don't have more women in leadership roles. i just kept thinking, 'oh yeah,' 'uh huh' as i was watching and listening to this. so much so, that i sent it to two women that i work closely with who are delights to manage whereas i am constantly pulling teeth with the middle aged men that i am expected to direct and lead on a project.
here's sandberg's message in short: sit at the table, make your partner your real partner, and don't leave before you leave.
women consistently underestimate themselves and credit their success to luck or external factors. and women are not well regarded when they achieve professional success, instead, they are often less liked because of it.
this talk is awesome and not because it is some fanatical feminist diatribe or condemning men for their treatment of men or overly academic. awesome.
ed ulbrich, the team lead on the development of the special effects for the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which i loved!), talks about how they pushed technology to its limits to create benajamin's face.
it is fascinating how they did it and to see the footage of how they used brad pitt's face and his iteration of the character to create something that didn't previously exist in more ways than one. amazing.
and because i just can't keep good ideas to myself, here are a few more ted talks, if you also have some time to kill over the holidays.
sheryl sandberg, the chief operation officer at facebook talks about the three reasons we don't have more women in leadership roles. i just kept thinking, 'oh yeah,' 'uh huh' as i was watching and listening to this. so much so, that i sent it to two women that i work closely with who are delights to manage whereas i am constantly pulling teeth with the middle aged men that i am expected to direct and lead on a project.
here's sandberg's message in short: sit at the table, make your partner your real partner, and don't leave before you leave.
women consistently underestimate themselves and credit their success to luck or external factors. and women are not well regarded when they achieve professional success, instead, they are often less liked because of it.
this talk is awesome and not because it is some fanatical feminist diatribe or condemning men for their treatment of men or overly academic. awesome.
ed ulbrich, the team lead on the development of the special effects for the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which i loved!), talks about how they pushed technology to its limits to create benajamin's face.
it is fascinating how they did it and to see the footage of how they used brad pitt's face and his iteration of the character to create something that didn't previously exist in more ways than one. amazing.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
who needs spirit?!
you can get a dose of it here.
thanks to my sis, for sending it along.
my score was 19/30 on this seasonal movie quiz, what's yours?
thanks to my sis, for sending it along.
my score was 19/30 on this seasonal movie quiz, what's yours?
a trio of ted talks
i have been battling a head cold/self-diagnosed chest infection (that my mom is worried might be pneumonia or bronchitis) since friday, but i did manage to rally and go to a girls' christmas potluck, a 3rd annual 29th birthday party, a bridal shower, a hen night, and a family christmas dinner.
i am pretty sure that all that activity over the weekend has meant that i didn't have enough in the tank to fend off whatever is ailing me and i stayed at home and took a sick day today. that meant i had a lot of internet time and came up with a few beauties that i thought i would share.
let's talk parenting taboos: rufus griscom & alisa volkman
although i am not a parent, i can only imagine the anxiety that having to take of a baby and then a child to raise would invoke in me. and part of that is because there are so many messages, and i would argue most of them directed at women specifically, about what parenting should look and feel like. and i think these two do a good job of blowing that myth out of the water while speaking frankly about their experiences as encouragement for others to do the same. it is all about being real and it sounds like parenting is no different.
an independent diplomat: carne ross
once you get past his introduction, which sounds a little self indulgent, this former british foreign service officer has a great message and i liked what he had to say about how the best things that happen to him were 'random.'
his ngo independent diplomat is innovative and responding to the ever evolving world order, which are not words you would ever use to describe the traditional diplomatic corps. his message lends itself well to my own experience of having exposure to the private sector to improve my performance and analysis within the non-profit sector. and i wish more people saw the value of that cross pollination of ideas and principles and it seems that ross does.
and i agree with him entirely on his statement: 'the government of south sudan, you heard it here first, is going to be a new country in the next few years' and that he can make the connection between you and i and el shabaab, the somali militia organisation. the world is shrinking and as it changes, the tool, agencies, and systems that we have used to make sense of it all also need to evolve at the same speed. and the un is sadly lagging behind the innovators and great thinkers.
and to think, i went through many years of international relations and international development organisation asking who western sahara belongs to and here, the answer is on ted.
now... where is my cliff to fall off??
and this one takes the ted cake today - michael spector: the danger of science denial
one of my passions is learning and this paired with my commitment to social justice and socioeconomic development lends itself nicely to questioning what we know (or think we know) and then applying the scientific method to learn more about it to improve. in a practical sense, this means that how we think we are helping can and should be examined, but rarely is. doing good seems to be acceptable because it is accepted that charity or development or donations are good in and of themselves. spector has the guts to say that attitude is wrong.
pseudo science and anecdotal information has taken over our collective knowledge retention and transfer. and it is scary what can happen when we dismiss scientific evidence and confuse correlation and causation (and all those social science kids out there are likely nodding their heads along with spector throughout his talk). we have more access to information than ever before and on one hand, i think that this radical democratic style of information sharing makes for a more dynamic and diverse conversation, but on the other hand, more crappy ideas, bad science, and misinformation is also shared in equal measure, if not more.
here's are some truths that spektor highlights that science has demonstrated to us time and time again:
this was a breath of fresh air for someone who often feels as though they are fighting against more people within the non-profit/development/charitable giving sector than outside of it to demonstrate not all international development projects are good, not all non-profit agencies deserve people's donations of time and money, and giving is not always better than receiving.
i am pretty sure that all that activity over the weekend has meant that i didn't have enough in the tank to fend off whatever is ailing me and i stayed at home and took a sick day today. that meant i had a lot of internet time and came up with a few beauties that i thought i would share.
let's talk parenting taboos: rufus griscom & alisa volkman
although i am not a parent, i can only imagine the anxiety that having to take of a baby and then a child to raise would invoke in me. and part of that is because there are so many messages, and i would argue most of them directed at women specifically, about what parenting should look and feel like. and i think these two do a good job of blowing that myth out of the water while speaking frankly about their experiences as encouragement for others to do the same. it is all about being real and it sounds like parenting is no different.
an independent diplomat: carne ross
once you get past his introduction, which sounds a little self indulgent, this former british foreign service officer has a great message and i liked what he had to say about how the best things that happen to him were 'random.'
his ngo independent diplomat is innovative and responding to the ever evolving world order, which are not words you would ever use to describe the traditional diplomatic corps. his message lends itself well to my own experience of having exposure to the private sector to improve my performance and analysis within the non-profit sector. and i wish more people saw the value of that cross pollination of ideas and principles and it seems that ross does.
and i agree with him entirely on his statement: 'the government of south sudan, you heard it here first, is going to be a new country in the next few years' and that he can make the connection between you and i and el shabaab, the somali militia organisation. the world is shrinking and as it changes, the tool, agencies, and systems that we have used to make sense of it all also need to evolve at the same speed. and the un is sadly lagging behind the innovators and great thinkers.
and to think, i went through many years of international relations and international development organisation asking who western sahara belongs to and here, the answer is on ted.
now... where is my cliff to fall off??
and this one takes the ted cake today - michael spector: the danger of science denial
one of my passions is learning and this paired with my commitment to social justice and socioeconomic development lends itself nicely to questioning what we know (or think we know) and then applying the scientific method to learn more about it to improve. in a practical sense, this means that how we think we are helping can and should be examined, but rarely is. doing good seems to be acceptable because it is accepted that charity or development or donations are good in and of themselves. spector has the guts to say that attitude is wrong.
pseudo science and anecdotal information has taken over our collective knowledge retention and transfer. and it is scary what can happen when we dismiss scientific evidence and confuse correlation and causation (and all those social science kids out there are likely nodding their heads along with spector throughout his talk). we have more access to information than ever before and on one hand, i think that this radical democratic style of information sharing makes for a more dynamic and diverse conversation, but on the other hand, more crappy ideas, bad science, and misinformation is also shared in equal measure, if not more.
here's are some truths that spektor highlights that science has demonstrated to us time and time again:
- vaccines don't cause autism
- vitamins won't make you healthier
- all of our food has been genetically engineered to look, taste, and smell the way it does
- organic food is a rip off
- by not embracing scientific advancement in food production, we won't be able to feed all the people on the planet
this was a breath of fresh air for someone who often feels as though they are fighting against more people within the non-profit/development/charitable giving sector than outside of it to demonstrate not all international development projects are good, not all non-profit agencies deserve people's donations of time and money, and giving is not always better than receiving.
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