Masked Mayhem

Halloween has never been a big part of my adult life. I have many memories from childhood of homemade costumes (big enough to fit over a snowsuit) and pillow cases. I remember being an early teen in those last days of trick-or-treating when the social hike through the dark streets was about getting to the houses that handed out pop. But as I got older this dark event faded out of relevancy. I never had a group of friends that was INTO costume parties. So in the last 10 years I have probably dressed up 4 times - 3 of those being my time out in Halifax. But this yeare was a big one!!


This year my friend Wade decided that he was tired of never having a real costume party experience either. He wanted to host an event that was not a stop-over on the way to the bar. He wanted to host a masked event that would let people be someone other than themselves for the night. And so we planned a Masquerade Party for Saturday night and went all out. Seriously, it has been 3 weeks of costume ideas and shopping and sewing. But the results were (obviously) awesome.

I chose to go big this year and actual buy a real costume since I had gotten my hands on a cheap wig. So Marie Antoinette was born. I knew that most gals go the sexy route for Halloween (been there) and I wanted to do something a bit different. I wanted the flirty edge but not so obvious. I had actually seen the costume online and when I found it in a shop here I knew what to do! (Of course I will likely be M.A. for may Halloween's to come!)

And it was SO much fun. The day was spent getting the decorations done and the last minute running around that always takes longer than you think it will. I was tired by 7pm I didn't think I would be able to party at all. Thank you Red Bull. The crowd was smaller than the Sexy Back party but the spirits were all in the right places and the masked mayhem was marvelous. Once again my friends (and their friends) prove to be one of the best things about my life right now and I am so lucky to have their energy and support (even when I am drunkenly yelling about the lack of wine or trying to cook the hangover breakfast). Happy Halloween Everyone!

Cycle Blog - Day 5

Today was the first "BRRRRRR" day of the season. I opened my door to realize I needed more clothes ... and gloves. There was frost on the ground. My throat is trying to recovering from huffing and puffing the 0-degree air. But the cycling was good. Figuring out how to use my bike gears has helped immensely. Finding the way to work a tool makes it easier to get what you want out of that tool - and I guess the same can be said for the body. I don't feel like throwing up the ENTIRE time anymore. Today we took a different route. Did a few more hills. Cycled two laps on Young Ave. where the million-dollar homes look like castles. It was a good morning. And although my legs were all wobbly in the end I felt good. To quote Elle Woods from Legally Blonde: "Exercise produces endorphines. Endorphines make you happy. Happy people don't kill their husbands." And not that I was contemplating anything sinister (I am a bit loopy from tiredness this week), I am understanding the happy part.

Good Gossip

At any given time in a TV season there is a teen-soap that gets everyone hooked. This year that show HAS to be "Gossip Girl". It is my new addiction. Admittedly I watch it on broadband rather than cable but I still hate to miss it. In fact, this week I began to crave it and couldn't wait until Wednesday morning when the episode was available online. So I'm sure you're thinking - what's the deal? Well, to begin you have to let loose any TV-snobbery about the teen-soap genre and you have to be willing to embrace the ludricracy of rich kids acting like adults. (This should not be so hard for any 90210 or OC fans of the past.)

The show is based on a series of books - the first of which was called Gossip Girl - published in 2002 and spawning 11 sequels (so far). Since then the books have been criticized for their decadence and potential inappropriateness for a young audience and the TV show appears to follow the same thread as CTV posts a mature audience warning on the episodes. So maybe it is not the best show for the age it portrays - but for the rest of us the decadence, deceipt, and debauchery make for perfect pulp viewing.

The show centers around Serena Van der Woodsen (the charming Blake Lively from the Sisterhood films) as a rich girl recently returned from boarding school after an abrupt departure. Her best friend - Blair Waldorf - is not so enthused to have her back particularly because Blair's boyfriend - Nate Archibald - seems a little too enthused. Enter into the mix Nate's smarmy friend Chuck and the requisite poor kids - Dan & Jenny Humphrey and the school shenanigans begin. Personally I am loving the budding relationship between Dan and Serena - portrayed by two winning young actors. And I am enjoying Jenny's challenge to the status system while still managing to play the game. And of course I like the fashion.

Also on the scene are the parents with histories, secrets and romances of their own to occupy their time (leaving more room for 'the kids' to run wild!) Notably the show brings Kelly Rutherford (ex-Melrose vixen) and Matthew Settle (ex-eye candy from a I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel - and still hot!) into their new station as TV parents of precocious teens. So the show is soapy and stylish and smart and even sweet at times. Narrated by the wonderful Kristen Bell (go V. Mars!) the show offers a fluffy respite from anything important. Can't wait to see what happens next. XOXO

Cycle Blog - Day 4

The temperature has dropped ... only 8 degrees this morning. Wade goes easy on me today. We avoid two of the "death" hills. But I am in a good mood. I am working on staying positive. I have realized that I have to ignore where he is and just do my thing. I had a good climb on the long grade this morning and didn't whine once going up. And although my legs felt like jelly doing the step-ups, I am getting better and working the bike gears so they don't feel like jelly ALL the time.

Cycle Blog - Day 3

Woke up late. Damn power outage meant I had to reset my clock last night and leave it to me to set the alarm for 6pm!!! FUCK - FUCK - FUCK! So I get to Wade's for 7am - a half hour late - and we don't have time to ride today. The air is warm (17 degrees) and everything is wet from the evening rain. We do a half hour walk - feels really good - can feel my leg muscles getting weak. Not as strenous as the cycling but a nice day three reprieve.

Cycle Blog - Day 2

It was easier to get up today ... probably because I went to bed at 11pm instead of 2am! The air was full of water but the bulk of the fog had lifted. By the time we got to the park and Wade had put me through our step-up exercises on the picnic table the sun had broken the horizon and the world was brighter. My mind is working against me. I loathe the hills and got stuck twice. My thighs feel powerless. My chest is burning and I can't catch my breath. Day two sucks. But I did it.

Cycle Blog - Day 1

A new series on my blog begins today. I have committed to a plan to cycle in the mornings with my friend Wade. He has promised to be my "coach" so I can actually be active. This plan entails riding a bike for an hour+ starting at 6:30AM. I haven't been on a bike for any length of time since 2001. This mini-blog will track the progress of this endeavour (place your bets now!).

Today was the start. It was still black when we hit the streets and only a sliver of gold & crimson was on the water when we got to the shore at Point Pleasant. I had trouble with the gears. And my chest burned. When I had to sprint down Young Avenue my legs ached. At the end of the ride my body was humming. It was humming jelly. And when I stepped off the bike my right leg almost gave out completely. Apparently I only got a 30-min warmup and about 10 mins of actual exercise accomplished today. But it was a start.

The Boys

I have two friends in Halifax that deserve some attention. They are my boys. (I am sure you have seen them sprinkled throughout the photos on this site.) Honestly it was only through the randomness of my often-ill-conceived-decision-making that we have made it this far. That and the fact that we really like each other. We eat good food, go to plays, watch football games and movies. We throw kickass parties and enjoy spontaneous late nights. We built a bar and rebuilt some wardrobe choices. Wade fixes my car and gives me tough-love reality checks. Ash enables my CFL-addiction and reminds me of my awesomeness.

I consider myself lucky because beyond all the "fun" they are genuinely kind, understanding and helpful guys. I am not always the easiest person to be friends with and they have survived the last two years to reward me with warm hearts and support (only occassionally sarcasm-tinged). So this is my shout-out to Ash & Wade. Because the beauty of having a blog is that you can share your narcissism with your friends!