A tribute to Michael Jackson

I hadn't thought about Michael's music in quite a while but 2 weeks ago I decided to download Thriller to my ipod. Then came the tragic news and it has shaken me somewhat. Whenever a celebrity dies I am suddenly reminded of my own mortality and it just feels disturbing. I came across this researcher who identifies a bird that actually does the moonwalk as part of the mating ritual. A tribute of sorts to Michael's amazing choreography.

It's a day full of thunder and darkening skies. Rain too, of course. And a nice cool breeze . Think I'll go on the balcony with a coffee. After a day of fasting to no avail (the test was cancelled because I wasn't prepared enough) the idea of coffee is so appealing. Too bad I don't have a Coffee Crisp or KitKat to go with it. My balcony looks pathetic with planters overrun with last year's dead foliage. I hauled the 2 cacti out to make it look festive (ha!). And the one with the bent over 'leaves/stocks' is still bent over. I didn't cut them off as Leslie Jane insisted I do. I don't know what it is about that plant but it just scares me silly. I'm afraid it will bleed if I cut it. Or I will be cursed in some way.
I think this year I prefer to get the inside taken care of rather than the balcony. The new sofa and chair are supposed to be delivered next Tuesday.

Look at you- you're all wet!!! (Einstein)

• Needless to say, the moment I left the apartment the sky turned as black as midnight, the lightening started flashing, the thunder grumbling and the rain angled at a 45 degrees. Guaranteed to soak the trousers despite a long raincoat. The umbrella was useless and the rain was falling so fast that nothing drained off the streets into the sewer. It was a deep lake at every corner and I was wearing sandals. This was the 4th foray through the rain for these sandals and they just gave out. I was sliding all around the soles that I vowed to hit the first shoe store at my subway destination stop. In 5 minutes I had tossed away the sandals and donned my new galoshes. I'm telling you, it'll never rain again this summer now that I have the boots.



• The weather is always like this when I go to the hairdresser. Today it was the all-important covering of the gray. But no matter how many products are caked on over the hair to prevent frizz, it's just an exercise in futility. I have prickly hair. That's all there is to it and the older I get the intensity of the prickles increase.

So, on the way home I had to stop by the post office to pick up a package. Since I didn't know the size of the box, I had taken along one of those dolly thingies. I think originally they were meant to transport suitcases. Black rods that fold up and have 2 bungee cords attached. While waiting in line I started to unfold it and the bungees were getting all tangled up so I put a foot on the bottom platform to stabilize it and - you guessed it - the wheels started to roll and I fell. In front of 20 people. I told them all to stop staring at me. I've had enough of this embarrassing business. This time I spared my face and glasses and fell on my tailbone. I seemed to try to break the fall with my left wrist so now my entire left side is sore. And the package didn't even need to be transported on a carrier.

I came home to a message that a big box was waiting for me at the gatehouse. It was my pet stroller! OK. All of you have a good laugh. I think my maternal instinct is emerging at long last. I had to do some assembly and ended up putting the back wheels on backwards. But this is a real, big-time stroller with a carriage tray underneath, a big rain bonnet, faux sheepskin-lined bed inside, a tray for coffee cups, water bottles. Now I have to see if I can get one of the girls inside to pose for us.

Oh what a beautiful day

Just like that song from "Oklahoma"...oh what a beautiful morning....that's the thing about wearing an ipod. You can walk down the street starring in your own movie, complete with soundtrack. I love being in my own little world singing to myself. More like lip-syncing since I haven't much of a voice left these days.

Yesterday I decided to pick up some fresh flowers to try and make a Japanese arrangement. It didn't work. The container was close to 2 feet long and the flowers were sticking out every which-way enticing the cats. So I just transferred the flowers to a couple of vases. Now I have a role reversal in the house. It used to be Amber who was obsessed by the beckoning flora. Now it's Tayoh who is lured by the flowers and yet she is feigning indifference whenever I come into the room. I think a barf-fest may be looming on the horizon.

I'm still mulling over my beaded muse and in the interim I've put together a necklace made of lucite beads in shades of purple as well as Swarovski crystals and silver toggle clasp. I do love purple.

Also picked up a new cell phone. I was lusting after the latest smart phone (the 3G 1phone) and figured that I'm not smart enough to operate such a thing. Plus I don't do business so it would just be an expensive toy. I did get a less smart phone by LG with a slide out keyboard and I am already doomed. The box contains no instructions on how to set the various functions, how to even find the functions. There is only info on how to insert the SIM card. Well, anyone could figure that one out. But how to shut off the beeping every time you press on a key..... At least I figured out how to set up the voicemail. Now, if someone would please call me...or text me.... 416-616-4382. Is this foolish to give out my number? I shall soon find out. Not too many people read this blog anyway.

Gloomy day

It's raining, it's drizzling, it's foggy, it's an extremely bad hair day. Worse than Kramer on Seinfeld. I can barely get through the doorway. Yuck. But I did get my furniture delivered right on time and now I'm in a dither over what to put in the drawers. So far the cats have skirted around the new shapes but have not ventured onto the steps. I hauled out some of my Japanese flower containers with a view to making an arrangement or two.
(Don't look at the mess on the sofa...oh yeah, you just had to look...)

I'm pondering over what to do for the Beaded Muse Contest. I've gathered much of my own stash in the same colourway looking for inspiration but I'm really stumped. Maybe I should just start moving the elements around on the bead tray. I've decided it will be a necklace with or without matching earrings.

Plus, I find myself stewing over the online bead class I'm taking through joggles.com. I already screwed up trying to access the forum. I read the 29 pages of step by step instructions and still I didn't get it. Some of the students have uploaded their work and I'm nowhere near that league. Boo hoo. Instead of whining I should just get to it. Now I'm distracted by my furniture. What other obstacles to creativity can I manufacture...?

Use the Muse Contest

My challenge kit for the Beader's Muse Contest arrived in the mail today and I love the colours. I have hidden the actual 'muse' because this aspect of the project is supposed to be a secret until the big reveal on July 18th. Of course, I'm stuck already trying to figure out what I will do. I think that I'm hung up on trying to use every piece in the kit and this isn't necessary. Once I pass on my entry I shall post my work and give a link to the gallery. Meanwhile, should you like to join in the challenge, go to http://www.thebeadersmuse.com/rules/

Woofstock

I started the day by going for a pedicure and manicure. It was the first pedicure of the season and there was a ton of work to be done on those big toes (post ingrown nail excision). So now the toenail is growing back with spurs that results in a nasty, jagged edge. I tried painting them myself which results in a bleeding look instead of a clean edge. Who am I kidding. I can't even reach my toes. So after much sanding around with a dremel, I have a nice set of painted toenails.

Afterwards I decided to check out Woofstock to satisfy my lust for all things canine. So many bulldogs. And a ton of yappy Yorkies. Many chihuahuas who also were warning off the masses with some fierce barking. Not a lot of goldens which surprised me given the popularity of the breed. This pic is of our girl, Goldoone, in the backyard of our Ottawa home. I couldn't wait to get out my camera and start photographing some of the dogs wearing tinted sun goggles. My camera battery needed recharging so I couldn't even turn on the thing. Waaaah! Can't I remember anything these days? And I never saw so many dog strollers in my life! I really should get one for taking the cats to the vet. So many things to buy these days....

Baby did a bad, bad, thang

This organizational exercise has taken on a life of it's own. I was up until 3:00 a.m. cleaning up my supply cupboards and only managed to get 2 shelves done. My main motivation is to find the plastic bag filled with suede, ultra suede and Lacy's Stiff Stuff for my beading projects. In 2 years it has not moved from it's place on the coffee table. So where is it now...? I need to find it now and then introduce some new storage space to this dump!!!!!!!

I get a newsletter regularly from Green Tea Design furniture on Carlaw (reproductions of Japanese, Korean and Chinese styles as well as some antiques). Tons of storage! And I've lusted after these pieces for many years. So I went to the showroom yesterday since there was a sale on the step chests and I felt I could justify making myself happy by purchasing non-edible objects. I bought 4 pieces all of which have some nice little storage areas. And I don't feel at all guilty although I know I should. I was stupid for not taking pictures ( even of Ruby, my feline escort throughout the showroom. She looks so much like Tayoh but is actually a main coone. Love the fur tufts in between the toes). I should get my stuff in about 2 weeks.

The model above is the CD step chest - meaning the drawer sizes will hold CDs but there are no dividers inside the drawers. The picture is deceptive as it is the size of an end table - I think 30" high. And since I collect Chinese and Japanese teapots which are tucked away in cupboards, I shall now be able to display them on the steps. YaY. I wonder if the cats will use this furniture as a ladder and knock off all those lovely doodads....

The art of organization

I can only imagine the pristine results of Carmi's efforts to reorganize her stash of supplies. She has a large storage space so I'm guessing that she has a place for everything. On the other hand, my accumulation of stuff exceeds my living space and threatens to oust me from my domicile. I have not been able to do anything creative lately and find that I am compelled to shop (always online) for artsy things. I don't know if this is a kind of looking for inspiration or if it's actually a replacement activity. Whatever the reason, I don't know what to do with all of my supplies.

I have a gigabyte-worth of seed beads. It boggles the mind just how many colours and sizes there are. I have made an attempt at organizing them by colour groupings using dollar store containers. This is my coffee table....I don't really need a table for coffee. And there's no where to hide the containers. Absolutely no space.

And this is my little work table with the all- important TV remotes and hand cream. Sometimes these items overshadow the work at hand. Ha! I see Tayoh's tail and legs in the upper left corner.

I've signed up for a bead class online that starts tomorrow. Must download the first lesson. I think there are samples to be done to illustrates different techniques and I'll post them. The final project is a biggish deal (for me) which will incorporate all the techniques learned. It's a 6 week course through http://www.joggles.com/

National Ballet of Canada

Yesterday marked the end of the 2008-2009 ballet season for subscription ticket holders. The performances are spaced in a most unusual fashion throughout the year - every 3-4 months, 2 ballets are shown on consecutive weeks. The previous weekend I saw Giselle and I liked it not at all. The best part was the bow-taking at the end which celebrated Chan Hon Goh in her final performance with the company after a career of 20 years. She's a fabulous dancer and the company must be mourning her departure. Like the leaving of Rex Harrington. I never got over his going - his presence on stage was so powerful and charismatic and no one has yet been able to fill that gap. He returned to the company this year as artist in residence and I had the pleasure of sitting right in front of him for a mini lecture that he gave prior to one of the other ballets. God, he's gorgeous. And rather slight in stature which somehow surprised me.

In my old age, I've turned off of traditional ballet and look forward to new pieces or modernization of the classics. Yesterday's bill featured 2 distinct pieces. The first - Skin Divers - had its North American premiere. It featured the poetry of Toronto poet, Anne Michaels, whose beautiful voice read both Skin Divers and Last Night's Moon. A string quartet blended the rhythm of the spoken word to music as the foundation for the dance.

I can't say enough about Carmen. Absolutely passionate, erotic, every scene cuts to the bone without any of that silly miming business designed to drive the story forward. The choreographer is Italian genius, Davide Bombana. .