You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2009.
Almost a year ago, I joined the Opimian Society as a way of educating myself a bit about wine. Along with the ability to order various cases of wines from all over the world, it offers what are known as Select Cases. Eight times a year, someone who knows alot more about wine than I do chooses six different bottles from a particular region and sends them to subscribers. So far, I’ve received Select cases from Italy, California and two different regions of France. Still to come are wines from Spain, Agrentina, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. I was even able to place a special order for some scotch. The only down side is that there is a fairly limited supply from Canada, apparently because the producers of our best wines tend to sell them farm gate, where they can make a higher profit margain.
While many of the wines need a bit (or more than a bit) of cellaring, I have tried several bottles, and there was only one that I didn’t enjoy. My favourite so far has been an Italian red from the Delibori winery. Light but scrumptious! I will definitely order a whole case of it the next time it’s offered.
If you’re interested in learning more about wine, The Naked Vine is worth a visit. This site is good for the basics.
Cheers!
What would you do to get the best job in the world? You have GOT to watch this job application from Meandering Michael. Insane!!
Yeah! York University goes back in session on Monday. Iris gets to finish her year (albeit two months late), my nephew gets to graduate, and my brother gets to make his mortgage payment!
Yippee! It’s Friday afternoon, the sun is shining, it’s mild (-2) and things are calm enough here that I can leave work on time today (or maybe even few minutes early).
Yahoo! Jamie is done another term of school. Each month that brings him closer to making it through high school is a month worth celebrating.
Have a good week-end everyone!
The photo below is of me doing my ‘I’ve lost 20 pounds’ happy dance. It was taken just after I’d gotten home from flamenco class – thus the attire. Unfortunately it’s a terrible photo: grainy and out of focus. The only reason I’m posting it is because I felt I should keep a record of my initial weight loss goal. I think I’ll lose about five more pounds (remember the blue dress) and then that will be it.
My camera really is on its last legs. Time to watch for a good sale.
Last night Joe and I went out to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Typically 
I don’t enjoy eating Chinese food in Whitehorse because I haven’t been able to find anything that comes even remotely close to the amazing food my sister-in-law used to make. But actually, last night’s meal was quite good. In addition to the usual menu items there were various types of dumplings, some special seafood dishes, and of course B-B-Q duck. I didn’t see many of these traditional foods though.
We ran into one of Joe’s students at the restaurant. She was with her two little ones so Joe gave them both some lucky money. It’s something I used to do for my nephews, but now that they’re grown up I have gotten out of the habit. I do miss being in a big city like Vancouver or Toronto at this time of year, where Chinese New Year is celebrated with great ’show’.
As for New Year’s superstitions, I find it interesting that many of these are ones that I practice myself in preparation for January 1st.
Happy New Year – Kung Hei Fat Choi – to my Chinese friends and relatives, and may the Year of the Ox be good to us all.
Beautiful heather!
More heather
Dinner is served. This photo was taken through the steam coming from a pot on the stove, which explains its 'smoky' appearance.
One of several toasts, each one of course followed by a 'cup of friendship' aka whisky.
Next, the entertainment. There was piping...
fiddling...
singing...
and pickin'.
Unfortunately my camera is on its last legs and a lot of the other photos didn’t turn out (sorry, no photo of me doing the Address to the Haggis). All in all though, I think everyone had a good time. Here’s one last shot…of McJamie.
Iris was interviewed by CBC Radio today about the strike at York, and the fact that she’s been away from classes for 11 weeks now. Later in the program, they talked to two other Yukon students, who are also in York’s dance program.
All three of these young women have pretty much given up on their year and on York. They are all questioning what they should do now.
Iris has applied to a number of schools in the Vancouver area for the fall, both in dance and in criminology, and she’s planning to look for work in Toronto in the meantime. No matter what, I don’t think she’ll go back to York for Term Two. They’re talking about extending that term into the summer, but if she has to go to school in the summer she’s lost all opportunity to work and earn money for the fall. It all seems so unfair.
As a part-time faculty member, my brother is one of those on strike. However he doesn’t agree at all with the stance taken by the union and particularly by the the teaching assistants. It’s a real mess all round.
Yikes! Both work and home life have been out of control busy this last week or so. A work trip, Jamie’s year end performance at school, getting ready for our annual Robbie Burns supper, etc. etc. I keep telling myself, “Just breathe Janet, just breathe.” Hopefully after Saturday life will slow down a bit and I can get back to posting more regularly. In the meantime, thanks for your patience.
Postings worth reading or watching: here and here .
A performance worth attending: Frankenstein. This was absolutely breath-taking. The last show is tonight…don’t miss it!
A moment of amazement: waking up this morning to the sound of water dripping from the roof…it’s mid-January in the Canadian North and it’s +3 degrees Celsius.
A moment of happiness: finding out that my youngest son, who has always struggled in school, is going to have a mark of close to 90 percent in socials this term, and going out for lunch with him to celebrate.
And finally, a photo that will make you smile from this website.
I am a morning person, and my normal practice is to get up around 5 a.m. to do some yoga. However because of putting in some long hours at work lately, I am more bagged than usual. So this morning went something like this:
5:13 a.m.: <opening my eyes and looking at the clock>. I just need two more minutes.
5:16 a.m.: It’s so nice and warm in here…I’ll get up in a minute.
5:22 a.m.: I don’t need to do a full hour of yoga this morning. Besides, I’m sore from last night’s dance class.
5:27 a.m.: I’ve got so much work to do today. I wish things would slow down. Well, I’ll just take another minute to relax. I’ll get up at 5:30 for sure.
<Drifted off to sleep>
5:43 a.m.: <suddenly awake again> JANET, IF YOU WANT TO FIT INTO THAT BLUE DRESS YOU’D BETTER HAUL ASS AND GET EXERCISING!
I was up and into my yoga room in about ten seconds flat. How’s that for motivation?
