Souptacular

This past week I made Butternut Squash Soup for the first time. I have never really made a soup from scratch before so this was a bit of an experiment. I think it turned out lovely. I actually sauteed a ton of orange & red peppers and added them to the mix so the soup had a solid peppers undertone. And I LOVE the flavour of squash thanks to my time in Australia (where its called pumpkin). And I finished it off with dill - my spice of choice - and a dash of parmesan cheese - for some kick. Overall, I was very chuffed with my first attempt. However, I did not make enough soup to share so the opinions of my concoction are really limited to myself and, considering my love of "bland" food, may not be the most informed. Greg did manage to snag a bowl but his comments have not yet been voiced to verify merit in my soup styling. But it was a start - I can only get better from here!

Pubbing

February kicks into gear with a rain-soaked "walking tour" of Halifax watering holes. There is something so fun about being out with your friends and classmates in matching shirts. Gotta love the MC logo usage for this tour's theme. My favourite line of the night ... "How do you swipe those" ... delivered by a 60-year-old English man whilst staring at my chest. Less dramatic (for some) than the October event but still top notch. Cheers!!

<

Maybe the Single Girls Understand

There are moments when no matter how swimmingly your life appears to be going you can feel a crashing thud in your social sphere. There are moments when all that effort to believe you are an amazing, intelligent, attractive, funny, sexy, understanding, caring women with something to offer is shattered. Often these moments are created in the minds of ourselves - we can be our own worst enemies. But there are other moments that you cannot control that rock you to the core. Make you feel small. Make you feel powerless and weak and sad for thinking that you could be more. These are the broken heart moments of the "modern, independent" woman.

In less than 10 days, the "in-your-face" celebration of Valentine's Day will arrive. This is the day that many will OPEN their hearts to others. They will embrace love, affection and joy. They will use sappy, commercial constructions to convey emotions they are too overwhelmed with to say themselves. For me? I see my heart close ever tighter as this day approaches. Attempts at vulnerability have been, quite soundly, rejected, and I can feel my heart begin to retreat again. I hate the notion of being closed off but it happens nonetheless. I can only take so much. I deserve more. I only wish it didn't hurt so much to get there.

Big Momma?!?!

Just wanted to publicly express my horror that Big Momma's House 2 was the top-ranking film of this past weekend. People, we have NO right to complain about "the crap" Hollywood produces if we continue to provide it with $28 million in ticket sales. Next time it crosses your mind to actually support Martin Lawrence's career, I suggest counting to 10 and walking away from the theatre. Thank you.

Swing Baby!!!

Although I can't remember the first times I was ever on a swing, I do remember loving swings in general. There is something fantastic about the feeling of swinging, of flying through the air. The woooooooshhhhhh. The smile on Taggart's face is enough to prove that the sensation of swinging is good for him too!

Coupling that a Single Girl can Love

Another new entertainment addiction found. In fact, this one has nicely replaced the void left by my full-viewing of the entire "Sex and the City" series. Thanks to Greg, I have been turned on to "Coupling". Ouch, that sounded WAY naughtier than it should have ... much like the series!!! Upfront I will admit that I am actually behind on the "Coupling" bandwagon. I did catch the odd episode while in Australia but never enough to make me a devotee. So now, five years off the pace, I am becoming one.

"Coupling" is a BBC series that began in 2000 and it's fantastic. It spawned a pathetic American version in 2003 that survived a grand total of 5 episodes before dying a quiet death. Truth be told, I don't think American broadcast television can handle "Coupling". If it had been put out by HBO, then it may have had a shot! One of the greatest things about the show is that it pulls NO punches (verbally, subject-wise) in its presentation of male/female relationships. And, because of its candor, it rings SO true thus making it SO funny. As in, laugh out loud funny. Not to mention infinitely quotable. Ahhh, the hallmark of great show is its ability to create a language its viewers can recite back to each other and "Coupling" has this in spades.

The series is now doing the rounds on DVD and I spent my afternoon watching Season Two. Now I must go out and get the remaining two seasons ASAP so I can find out what happens with Steve and Susan, Sally and Patrick, Jeff and Julia and Jane. Bring on the blizzards ... I have something to kill the time!

Election Blues

I wanted to post this pic taken from the thorough coverage at CBC's site. For the first time in my life I haven't been a fan of soooo much Blue. That solid block in Alberta is terrifying ... ouch! Anyway, we all know the result. I just found this setup to be a very visual smack in the face of Canada's new reality.

Election Notes

It's Election Day. Another one. I feel that my ranting time is over (at least pre-election commentary!) as the polls are slugging through their day. The arrival of blowing snow on the east coast is a sad one. It offers people an excuse to not get to the polls. It creates an obstacle for one more voice to be heard. That voices may be getting lost on flake-filled wind is perhaps an apt position for a Canadian election. Like many of my friends and colleagues I have watched as the Conservative momentum has rolled towards this day. I have read the reports of "the west" finally being heard as its financially-fueled thoughts are top of the Harper heap. I have also seen the emergence of ads, posters, and websites crying out for the counter position. Truth be told, today will be a sad one indeed if the Canadians choose to vote AGAINST a party rather than truly FOR one. It will be like the last election in our southern neighbour where many of us will have to face the world (HELL, face many of our own citizens!!!) and say "We're Sorry ... We Tried". I hope this is not the case. I hope that when the snow clears we will have a Canada that did not bow to fear, frustration, and frivolous power grabs. I hope that we will awake tomorrow to a future that maintains women's rights, marriage for all, childcare and the view that all people are valuable.