Last'11 post

It has been a great year and I've thoroughly enjoyed a few days off during this holiday season. It's always so nice to catch up with family & friends who maybe I hadn't heard from in a while. I love this time of year.

Alvin & I are especially stoked after booking a weekend Toronto trip- we're planning our first NBA live experience. And of course we've bought tickets to see our favourite team (I feel like a little kid I'm so excited) the Boston Celtics. It's going to be a quick trip & I'm hoping that my family will forgive me because we're planning on having a very selfish weekend- hopefully 2 NBA games before returning home- with little (or no) time for visiting & gallivanting. We'll see as the date draws nearer.

But I do get ahead of myself. Christmas was lovely- and I'm thrilled that my Gran-style verenike (cottage cheese perogies) turned out great. Mom taught me how to make the cream gravy- who knew it had to be whipping cream?!*grin* Tom very graciously took a photo because I was so proud of how beautiful my perogies turned out (the rest of the meal was divine- I'm just the one who insisted on the photo)*grin*.

I could post a whole bunch more reflections on an amazing year...but I'd rather show this video that Tom shared with me- hilarious. I do love yoga but don't always like the trendiness surrounding it...hope you enjoy this video, I know I did. Happy New Year all.

My Worst Reads of the Year

Most of you know that I'm an avid reader...most of you also know that I'm an optimist. That's why I want to try something a little different as we near the end of 2011. This year I would like to highlight my 2 worst reads of the year. I know- I usually stick to my faves (& some optimism might still trickle in...) but I really feel like sharing the most disappointing reads my greedy little eyes consumed.

#1- The Good Mayor - a love story that could not get any worse. I held on through the disappointments hoping it would improve. A secretary for the town mayor who has been unlucky in love has a crush on her boss- one that is strongly encouraged. The setting is some Eastern European country I was trying to dive into. Just as I'm beginning to see that this will not follow the fairy tale ending the heroine (?) turns into a dog to escape the prying eyes of the townsfolk and steals away in the night with the mayor. When the dog and mayor are safely away to start a new life she resumes her human shape.

Really?

Disaster.

#2- I do try to read Canadian literature...but this author I found particularly discouraging because she used lots of long complex sentences to say nothing. Nothing! I know you've all tried to read those books- but I kept getting distracted by these perfectly manufactured (sometimes beautiful phrases) that did not tell a story. Call me old-fashioned but the stories I enjoy have a beginning, a middle, and an end*grin*. I wouldn't say this lady is a terrible author but Charlotte Gill is not my preferred type of story-teller (& I would not recommend her short stories)*grin*.

Apart from those two it was another great year of reading. I shamelessly fall back on British murder mysteries when I've finished a book that leaves me feeling 'meh'. If any of you have some good recommends please send my way. I could recommend a couple good ones but don't want to change this post from the negative to the positive*grin*.

The Only Thing Worse...

The only thing worse than finding that someone has left a tissue in their pocket & thrown the load in the washing machine is knowing that you're the one who left the tissue in her pocket.

Drat.

1st Snow Run of the Season

That's right, I hit the road tonight & it feels great. I would lie if I didn't say that about half-way through I thought perhaps I should've shortened the first run after quite some time...but the home stretch felt great & I feel motivated to keep it up with the mild weather.

I was also the lucky beneficiary of an extra wreath that Dev accumulated- how cute! I suggested that perhaps I should hang it on the inside of my door so I could enjoy it more often...I don't think Alvin's up for that*grin*. Thanks Tom & Dev for passing this on to me.