Feathered Frame of Reference Could have Frightened

My purse is quite well known for being somewhat of an abyss, where things that go into it can take quite some time to retrieve.

Such was the case with my iPod Shuffle this morning, except my search for it sparked a weird phenomenon.

Just after leaving my house I was poking through my purse looking for my iPod, as I walked, when I decided it made more sense just to stop and look properly.

As soon as I halted and started my search a couple of pigeons flew towards me. Within seconds I had a large mass, seemed like hundreds, of pigeons flocking in my direction and surrounding me.

I don't particularly like birds, their feet freak me out, so the experience was quite disconcerting.

Fortunately I remembered that a lady comes and feeds the pigeons at the very spot I happened to be standing. So when I stopped and opened my bag, the pigeons thought that breakfast had arrived.

Hence I didn't panic.

My next immediate thought was 'Thank God I didn't watch Hitchcock's 'The Birds' last night, as this would have frightened the living daylights out of me completely'.

I will admit that I walked away pretty quickly, just in case the pigeons HAD watched the 'The Birds' last night and were pissed that I hadn't brought them breakfast.

I swear at least one of them gave me a dirty look.

Etneral Hydra

Last night I saw the in development production of Eternal Hydra by the Crow Theatre at Buddies in Bad Times.

The piece is still in development but very polished and despite being very long (over two hours) utterly engaging.

The characters are well written to both reinforce and contrast one another with powerful subtly.

The actors do a tremendous job bringing them to life; especially the actress in the Selma role in the second act; though I will admit that for the first few minutes I found the scholar with the English accent's character to be played a little like what I called a 'She-Hugh-Grant', but in a good way.

The story arc is slow, complex but quite relentless.

The costuming, lighting and music are subdued (colour palettes of greys and browns predominantly) but highly effective and never distracting.

Without giving away anything of the plot I will say that I was left feeling that the piece is like a mirrored onion; with multiple layers that as they peel off also reflect back on one another.

I enjoyed it a great deal and would recommend it highly.

Mild Chemical Turmoil

Today is a day of mild chemical turmoil.

Nothing profound, just one of those days that I get some months, when I am just not myself.

My skin has invited a huge pimple to live temporarily on my chin, and to my dismay, it invited some friends to keep it company.

My rational mind is a bit boggled too. It took forever to decided what to wear (how hard can choosing between two black sweaters be) only for me to decide, literally as we were walking out the door, I wanted to wear the other sweater after all.

It doesn't just affect visual things, but speech too. I noticed that I was unusually full of bitchy, grumbling, sooky comments for no reason.

Fortunately my boyfriend was very patient and merely amused as he watched me dither, mumble, whinge and rage.

On the way to work, when we finally got out of the door, I mentioned that perhaps I am not really fit to be in public today and should wear an 'Approach with Caution' sign.

He laughed but didn't disagree or say anything at all. Smart man.

Grey Cup - cultural learnings

I think it is very healthy to occasionally do something that is completely out of your comfort zone of usual interests.

On Friday night I went to one of the official Grey Cup parties for the CFL Saskatchewan RoughRiders, which is about as far out of my comfort zone as I can get.

There was a sea of people (mainly men) decked out in green, cheering, drinking beer and listening to what I call "man music" - what my old housemate called "C$&%!k Rock" - think Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Billy Idol etc.

I insisted on finding myself a set of the shiny green 'mardi-gras' style beads that everyone was wearing. My boyfriend commented that he didn't realize that this was my team. I enlightened him that I didn't have a team I just wanted the jewelry.

Everyone was very jovial, even welcoming to supporters from other teams, which was nice.

Happily wearing my beads I couldn't help but ponder why it is that hard-core male sports fans; whether it be Aussie Rules, Rugby, Grid-iron etc.; love dressing in drag.

I couldn't imagine any other occasion where self-confessed tough farm boys would deck themselves out in colored-beads, skirts and painted-faces.

Is it a warrior/tribal thing? Is it a peacock thing? Is it a secret love of cross-dressing thing?

I will probably never know.

I had a good time, don't need to go again, and offer my congratulations to the Roughriders on their victory.

Gettting Counted... less fun far from home

Tomorrow, I am heading to the Australian Consulate General (ACG) in Toronto to cast my vote for the Australian Federal Election.

Australia's compulsory voting system, which I support, means that exercising my democratic right is a foregone conclusion.

However, casting my vote when I live in another country means forgoing all the more enjoyable aspects - that have little to do with the election - of the voting poll locations that I get at home.

No running into friends and neighbours, no ballons and streamers, no sausage-sizzle run by the local scout group, no cake stall by the local school. Not even a 'guess the number of jelly beans in the jar' fund raiser (you win the jelly beans).

It's all quite dull, arriving at the high-rise office (where the ACG is located), going into a small white room to vote, then leaving.

Maybe I should set up my own cake stall or put together a jelly bean jar to make the experience feel more authentic not only for myself but for other Aussie ex-patriots.

Mr. Snow has arrived

Mr. Snow arrived today.

That's ok, we had been expecting him; even if he was a little early; and he can indeed be very pretty.

However, Mr. Snow, I do not recall saying that you could bring Mr. Evil-Wind-Who-Whips-Your-Face-So-Hurts with you. His presence is really quite intolerable and he definitely has a negative influence on your behaviour as well.

Bringing uninvited guests is really rather rude.

Battling the Coming Cold

Winter is fast approaching. Every year I feel as if have been suffering from amnesia as to what 'Canadian Cold' feels like, then that first particularly cold day arrives and my memories flood back. "Oh yes, this is hideous."

This year I am determined to be prepared.

I have purchased a new coat. I was adamant that practicality would take precedence over fashion and vanity. After trying on an arctic-down, thermal-lined coat, that was indeed warm, but so voluminous that I looked like an apple with legs I admitted to myself that my soul would be warm but very unhappy. I ended up compromising by getting a thick down coat that does have some womanly shape. I am merely human and wish not to resemble fruit or marshmallows.

Next I scouted out thermal lined boots that lean less towards yeti-ugly. I sourced a pair that should do the trick, if I decided that my tootsies are too cold in my regular leather boots.

After all the research into winter apparel, and laying of contingency plans, I likened my search to being like preparing for battle. It sounds quite ridiculous, but is all too true.

I am almost prepared to battle winter! If winter would be so kind as to wait until I am ready. I just hope winter abides by rules of engagement, no nasty -40 days thank you very much.

Death Star Canteen

Ordering penne alla arrabiata will never be the same again!

Web = $Worthless or $Billions? Depends if you are a writer

No Country For Old Men = tense girl

No Country For Old Men is the latest offering by the Coen Brothers.

I saw it last night and have to say that it an excellent film that more than lives up to the stellar reviews it has been receiving.

I should warn however that it's not a film for the faint of heart. I was in a perpetual state of hypertension for the duration of the screening.

The script and acting performances are excellent; the cinematography is superb.

Additionally, quirky attention to detail and props; whether they are acknowledged by the clever dialogue or not; give the film an edge that is at times unexpectedly humorous. Note the trips to the cowboy outfitters, the bad-ass' weapon, peanut eating, flowers in the hospital, 'dead-dawg', and so on.

More than anything else what sets this film apart as spectacular is the pacing, the heart-pounding, nail-biting, agonizing pacing. There is no real way to describe how they keep you on edge and I refuse to spoil any elements of the plot to attempt to do so.

All in all it's quite amazing when you take into consideration that the 'primary bad-ass' sports a girly bob haircut.

If you don't have a faint heart definitely go and see this film.

Worshipping Consumerist Idols

The earrings pictured above represent the very first purchase I have ever made on-line for myself. They arrived today. I think I am mildly in love with them. They are GORGEOUS.

Hard-core biblical types may not be happy about my gold worship, and I care not that Thomas Moore's Utopian society would think me a slave for wearing them.

My consumerist heart is VERY joyful at the moment.

Jamie Oliver Ad

I agree with my friend, this ad is great!

Bo Pepper - I Haven't Got You Anything

I won't be ready to face the 'holiday' season for a least a month, but this is too good not to share. Enjoy!

Royal Winter Fare On Offer

On Saturday I visited the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

My farmer grandfather would have been proud of me wandering the sheds looking at sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, chickens and even bees. He probably would have been less impressed at my 'city girl' habit of calling all the sheep 'lamby' and patting them like I do domestic pets.

After spending some time in the 'petting zoo', with all the crazed children, it made me wonder which side of the fence the animals were really on.

We also saw sculptures made of butter, a multitude of fudge stalls and lots of other good stuff. All in all we had a great time.

Talking to a friend from home I described how the event was similar to the 'Royal Melbourne Show' without the show bags and carnival rides, to which she responded "so, without all the good bits?"

I liked focusing more on the animals than the rides but agree that a show bag wouldn't have gone astray.

Nightclub Wars

My clubbing days are long behind me, not that I was ever much of a mainstream 'clubber' in the first place. This piece makes me particularly pleased about that.

Nightclub Wars - CBC News Sunday

Why does it take as many as 70 police officers to patrol Toronto's club district on a Saturday night? We give you an exclusive inside look as cops walk the beat in North America's most intensive party zone.

To watch the piece filmed and produced by talented journalist, Greg Szopa, click here
.

Tumble-dried Doggie

Most dog owners know that baths are generally less than popular with pooches.

My own Round Houndini; despite being the friendliest of beagles under normal circumstances; becomes one soulful, howling hound when he realizes it's bath time.

I have a wonderful photo of him from his very first bath, when he was six weeks old, sitting in a small plastic tub with a priceless forlorn expression that only hounds can do so soulfully.

For years my family did the 'dog bath dance'. This included: chasing the hound; getting the hound into the bath (harder than it sounds); having the hound alternate between forlorn looks and growling; multiple escapes; and the inevitable shake (saturating us all) then the essential roll in the mud.

After my brother and I moved away my parents surrendered the 'dance' and now Houndini has the 'Puppy Spa' service come to the house to take care of his beauty routine.

However, dog washing now offers a higher-tech option with a dog washing machine that resembles the washer we use for our clothes. It's quite remarkable.

To see the demonstration video, Click here.

I'm not sure Houndini or my family would be able to use it, one sad look from Houndini inside the machine and my entire family would end up inside the machine with him to keep him company.

Going Postal - not as joyous as antipated

The Canadian Dollar has been stronger than the US Dollar for some weeks now. Like many people I am dying to take advantage of this by purchasing goods from the US. Not only because the $CA is stronger but generally goods are less expensive in the US.

On Saturday I excitedly loaded up my Mastercard in anticipation of 'buying gifts for myself' from my favourite US clothing retailer online for the very first time.

Apparently my level of excitement was quite humorous to observe.

Unfortunately after spending almost two hours negotiating the website, the postal fee, and cross-border taxes - there was a LOT of swearing - I had to concede that my 'fantastic' idea wasn't feasible after all. Sigh!

Even with the stronger $CA the amount of taxes etc. to get my package into Canada meant that the sweater I had my eye on would end up costing almost $200. It is not a $200 worth sweater and I didn't adore it $200 worth.

So I abandoned by mission quite miffed.

I haven't given up I will still try to find a way to buy something while the $CA is strong, it just won't be that sweater.

Melbourne Cup - horse race extravaganza

The Melbourne Cup is known as the 'race that stops a nation' and is Australia's most prestigious thoroughbred horse race, held on the first Tuesday in November each year at Flemington Racecourse.

Although technically the race will be held tomorrow, due to the time difference between Canada and Australia, the race will be run today in Canada time.

It is such a part of the Melbournian cultural fabric that it cause for a public holiday, I am not aware of any other public holidays in honour of a horse race.

These days the celebration is as much about 'fashion on the field' and exclusive marquees as it is about horses. I will sheepishly admit that I have attended a couple of 'cups' where I didn't see a horse at all. My father informs me that this year the Emirates (cup sponsor) four-level venetian inspired marquee and Saab Ice Bar are the most coveted marquees to gain entrance to.

It is an event where women will feel utterly ridiculous if they are not wearing a hat (or a fascinator) and the fashion stakes are quite high. Planing your 'cup outfit' can take weeks.

Fashion and marquees aside there is definitely something exciting about placing your one and only bet on a horse (even if like me you have no idea what you are doing and make choices primarily on silks colours or horse names) each year.

This year my money ($1) is on Dolphin Jo ridden by Clare Lindop.

Goooooo Dolphin Jo... gooooooooo!

Dalai Lama in Canada

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is currently visiting Canada.

Greg was incredibly fortunate not only to attend the session at the Rogers Centre (Sky Dome) in Toronto but also got to sit in the front row. When I asked him about the experience he said that he thought his holiness was delightful and had some very interesting thoughts on many topics including secularism and addressed the issues with China.

Apparently what I had heard is true and his holiness does indeed get the giggles on a regular basis, which is as endearing as I had suspected.

Greg said that despite being a religious leader, who emits a strong presence, his holiness also inspires feelings of warmth and familiarity which Greg compared to the affection you feel for your favourite uncle.

The experience inspired numerous conversations over the next few days including how the Dalai Lama is appointed/selected/found; his teachings in general; and how Greg was aware of people from many religious backgrounds including Jewish and Catholic who had been in attendance and how we both like cross-religion sharing.

Both being from Catholic backgrounds we amused each other saying how nice it must be to have a religious leader who you can feel genuine affection and respect for as we agreed that the likelihood of us ever feeling any warmth or calling Pope Benedict 'Uncle Benny' is highly unlikely.