Gozer wanted to walk to Ren's this afternoon. At the point where we can either take the path that eventually leads to Ren's or the path the skirts the Blue Springs Pond basin (which is a former quarry), she wanted to take the path to Ren's. I, on the other hand, wanted to take the other path because it leads to home more quickly. A walk to and from Ren's is at least 90mins, plus the time in the store.
Gozer tends to pull on her leash when she wants to go somewhere. I used to try to drag her in the direction I want to go, which resulted in her digging in her heels and pulling even harder. These days, I stop, face the direction I want to go, plant my feet, and hold the leash around my bellybutton with my arms close to my body while saying "no". I give the leash some very gentle tugs to indicate that we can move on but we don't start walking anywhere until she lets the leash go slack and gives up. Yes, it can take some time but eventually she will give up.
What often ends up happening is that she'll walk a couple of feet and then veer off in the direction she wants to go. I then stop again, repeating the same maneuvers as above, and wait until she's ready to go. If it ends up that she takes a while to go where I want her to, and that we have to make multiple stops to wait for her to give in, so be it. I'm finding that the longer we do this, the shorter the time until Gozer gives up.
Anyways, so we didn't walk to Ren's this afternoon but I did tell her that we could go after we got home and we ended up driving there after dinner. She had a lovely time sniffing around and getting treats from the cashiers. She really liked those treats because she ended up getting four of them.
There were two other dogs in the store: both were boxers, and one was pulling at its leash to see her. The first time we saw them, she turned away and so we ignored them. Later on she wanted more treats from the cashier, who was talking to the boxers' owner, and she went closer to the boxers although didn't get close enough for sniffs to be exchanged. The one boxer was lunging and making noise and Gozer was cringing away from it so I took her away. She relaxed quite quickly and continued sniffing around.
We left because I got bored, not because she was upset, although we were only there for 20mins or so. I ended up buying her a new squeaky that had a good loud sound but was different than her other loud squeakies. She carried it to the cashier and out the door so I think she liked it.
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Friday, April 29, 2016
Wednesday, April 06, 2016
Taking Gozer to Ren's
This afternoon I took Gozer to Ren's, a local pet store. She likes going there because she can sniff lots of things she's not allowed to have - like rawhide and beef pizzles - and smell all the different kinds of food they carry. Sometimes she gets to meet other dogs there, and she also usually gets treats from the people who work there. In the spring and fall we can walk there (it's about 45mins each way so we don't do the walk when it's too hot or cold) but I needed to buy birdseed and there's snow and mud on the ground.
Things didn't go well the last time we were there. There had been a dog who was unhappy and making sad noises, which bothered her, and then she was surprised by a big dog coming in. She ended up peeing on the floor. I felt really bad because I had seen that she wasn't happy but I was trying to get my shopping done and so I kept her in there too long. At the first sign of distress - that time, lowering herself and moving much more carefully as well as showing the whites of her eyes - I should have taken her out of the store but I was more focused on me than her. That was a mistake, and I decided that I would do things differently the next time because I don't want Gozer to be so upset that she pees on the floor.
This time, we went in the afternoon because I knew that it wouldn't be busy. Before we went in, I decided that I wouldn't try and do my shopping while she was with me; instead, I would watch her and at the first sign of distress, I would put her in the car and go back and get the bird seed that I was there to buy. I wasn't sure what signs to look for, exactly, but I decided that if her behaviour changed at all that she would leave.
This plan worked really well. She happily sniffed around the whole store twice, getting two treats in the process, when all of a sudden she started panting. I know that she pants when she's nervous or upset so I took her out and put her back in the car. Another owner said that his German shepherd wanted to meet Gozer but since Gozer doesn't normally like big dogs and she was exhibiting signs of stress, I nixed that meeting. When we got home, we had snuggles in front of the tv and she seemed happy.
A note about treats there: I know she's not supposed to eat pretty much anything but I figure that a couple of small treats won't be that bad and they make her visit much more pleasurable. I want her to associate Ren's with happiness and treats are part of that. Besides, Gozer knows that she gets treats from each and every cashier; in the past, she's barked at the one cashier out of three who hadn't given her a treat. It's pretty funny to watch.
Things didn't go well the last time we were there. There had been a dog who was unhappy and making sad noises, which bothered her, and then she was surprised by a big dog coming in. She ended up peeing on the floor. I felt really bad because I had seen that she wasn't happy but I was trying to get my shopping done and so I kept her in there too long. At the first sign of distress - that time, lowering herself and moving much more carefully as well as showing the whites of her eyes - I should have taken her out of the store but I was more focused on me than her. That was a mistake, and I decided that I would do things differently the next time because I don't want Gozer to be so upset that she pees on the floor.
This time, we went in the afternoon because I knew that it wouldn't be busy. Before we went in, I decided that I wouldn't try and do my shopping while she was with me; instead, I would watch her and at the first sign of distress, I would put her in the car and go back and get the bird seed that I was there to buy. I wasn't sure what signs to look for, exactly, but I decided that if her behaviour changed at all that she would leave.
This plan worked really well. She happily sniffed around the whole store twice, getting two treats in the process, when all of a sudden she started panting. I know that she pants when she's nervous or upset so I took her out and put her back in the car. Another owner said that his German shepherd wanted to meet Gozer but since Gozer doesn't normally like big dogs and she was exhibiting signs of stress, I nixed that meeting. When we got home, we had snuggles in front of the tv and she seemed happy.
A note about treats there: I know she's not supposed to eat pretty much anything but I figure that a couple of small treats won't be that bad and they make her visit much more pleasurable. I want her to associate Ren's with happiness and treats are part of that. Besides, Gozer knows that she gets treats from each and every cashier; in the past, she's barked at the one cashier out of three who hadn't given her a treat. It's pretty funny to watch.
Saturday, March 05, 2016
A new bed
I thought about doing a red carpet post but I've been having trouble with my right wrist; the tendonitis I had in 1999 appears to be flaring up again. Typing isn't the easiest thing in the world, unfortunately. If the dresses were especially interesting I might have made more of an effort ... but in a way, as designers have more control over what award show attendees wear and as people are more afraid of what people on the internet might say about them, what people wear on the red carpet is so much less interesting than it used to be.
Anyways. Today - finally! - we went shopping for a new bed. We bought our last mattress over a decade ago and it's been on an ikea queen-size 3-part metal futon frame that whole time. The mattress has sagged and every time Ian rolls over at night (which is often), the whole bed sways from side to side. It's like being at sea (or what I imagine being at sea is like, since I've never actually been) but much less regular.
We went to Sleep Country, where we tried different softnesses. We (meaning I) strongly preferred the softest bed, and we both had a slight preference for pocket coils over memory foam. We also discovered that we wanted the mattress on a platform instead of a boxspring because the platform causes the bed to move so, so, so much less when either person moves around. Oh, and we decided on a king size bed, and it'll be delivered on Wednesday.
Of course size we changed mattress sizes, we needed all new sheets and a new duvet. We ended up buying them there because there won't be time to go and buy all of it at a cheaper price somewhere else before the mattress is delivered. All of that - including pillows and mattress and pillow covers - ended up costing about 40% of the total price. We think they may make a lot of money on all of that.
Above I said we'd finally gone shopping for a bed because we've needed one for a very long time. My back and hips are bad and our bed makes it worse. Add to that the aforementioned swaying and I haven't slept well in our bed in ages. I'm very much looking forward to the new bed, even though there's so much work to do to prepare.
Anyways. Today - finally! - we went shopping for a new bed. We bought our last mattress over a decade ago and it's been on an ikea queen-size 3-part metal futon frame that whole time. The mattress has sagged and every time Ian rolls over at night (which is often), the whole bed sways from side to side. It's like being at sea (or what I imagine being at sea is like, since I've never actually been) but much less regular.
We went to Sleep Country, where we tried different softnesses. We (meaning I) strongly preferred the softest bed, and we both had a slight preference for pocket coils over memory foam. We also discovered that we wanted the mattress on a platform instead of a boxspring because the platform causes the bed to move so, so, so much less when either person moves around. Oh, and we decided on a king size bed, and it'll be delivered on Wednesday.
Of course size we changed mattress sizes, we needed all new sheets and a new duvet. We ended up buying them there because there won't be time to go and buy all of it at a cheaper price somewhere else before the mattress is delivered. All of that - including pillows and mattress and pillow covers - ended up costing about 40% of the total price. We think they may make a lot of money on all of that.
Above I said we'd finally gone shopping for a bed because we've needed one for a very long time. My back and hips are bad and our bed makes it worse. Add to that the aforementioned swaying and I haven't slept well in our bed in ages. I'm very much looking forward to the new bed, even though there's so much work to do to prepare.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Gozer's new bed
Gozer got a new bed today! A friend of mine had beds made for her dog and they looked really nice so we decided to have one made for Gozer, too. Gozer and I picked it up today and we're thrilled with it, as you can see:
The person who made it doesn't sew professionally but she did a great job on this bed. The seams are straight and finished cleanly, the zipper is installed beautifully, and the plaid is matched. I'm really impressed by the work she did. She was worried the bed would be too big for Gozer but it's a good size because Gozer likes to stretch out.
The maker didn't want to charge me much for this bed - under twice the materials cost - but I thought this bed was worth more than that. A store-bought bed like this would cost at least $100 so a handmade bed should cost more than that. I ended up paying her just over double what she asked for because I thought that was the minimum fair price for the bed taking into account the quality of craftsmanship. I'd have paid more but she really didn't want to take what I gave her and I don't think she would have taken more than that.
Ian says I'm the worst negotiator ever because I wanted to pay more than I was charged but I firmly believe in charging a fair price for one's work. She might not be a professional sewist but she did a professional-quality job and should be compensated fairly for that.
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| Gozer on her new bed. I just put it on the floor and she made herself comfy. |
The maker didn't want to charge me much for this bed - under twice the materials cost - but I thought this bed was worth more than that. A store-bought bed like this would cost at least $100 so a handmade bed should cost more than that. I ended up paying her just over double what she asked for because I thought that was the minimum fair price for the bed taking into account the quality of craftsmanship. I'd have paid more but she really didn't want to take what I gave her and I don't think she would have taken more than that.
Ian says I'm the worst negotiator ever because I wanted to pay more than I was charged but I firmly believe in charging a fair price for one's work. She might not be a professional sewist but she did a professional-quality job and should be compensated fairly for that.
Thursday, May 01, 2014
Shopping adventures
Today was pap smear day. Blech. It's not the worst medical test ever but it's far from my favourite (give me a bone scan any day!). Thankfully it's over for another few years.
I decided to indulge in a little retail therapy afterwards. Between our upcoming trip and spring finally almost here I'm in the mood for some new clothes. I bought a gorgeous skater (short semi-circular) skirt in white polka dots on black. The skirt hangs the same way all the way around - even in the center front and center back! I know that this doesn't seem like a big deal to you but it is to me. My body isn't a cylinder; in fact, it's a bit wider in front and back than it is on the sides. As a result, semi-circular skirts like this tend to drape really well on the sides but are flat in the center front and back. Somehow this skirt actually drapes in the center front and back as well as the sides. It's truly awesome. It may look good on no one else but for me and my body type, it's perfect.
I also bought a tunic. I love the bottom because it has neat pockets. The neckline is a round jewel neckline so it's kind of boring but it'll be fine for me. The sleeves are 3/4 length which I don't love; I'll leave them for now but I might think about adding an extension to the sleeves when we get back. Maybe at the same time I'll think about re-working the neckline.... or not. We'll see.
I have to admit that today wasn't my only retail therapy adventure; I've also bought some stuff online lately. I don't remember everything I've purchased because it hasn't all arrived yet, but I know that I bought a couple of comfy dresses and maybe a top. I also bought this super-gorgeous tote bag:
Weirdly, I have a scarf that incorporates each and every one of the accent colours used in the bag. I guess these colours must be "it" for this year.
Anyways, I had been carrying a large PC GREEN shopping tote bag with me when I traveled. It was the right size to comfortably carry everything but it didn't have a zipper, it was quite lightweight, and it had a big logo on the side. This bag is about the same size and is just as comfortable to carry but has a top zipper, no logo, and lots of small pockets. I carried it with me today and I'm very, very happy with it. Not only does it look awesome, it's comfortable to carry and holds a ton of stuff. I'm looking forward to carrying this whenever I travel.
I also bought a couple of pairs of walking shoes the other day. I replaced (again) my Merrell jungle mocs because they're so comfortable to wear and they hold up to hours of walking. I've been buying these shoes for quite a few years now. Although the soles don't last all that long and they can be slippery when they're wet, they're very comfortable when walking a lot. They also look nice enough with most pants and leggings.
I also bought a pair of these Skechers Go Walk shoes:
I hadn't planned on looking at them at all but when I first put them on, my feet felt like they were surrounded and cushioned by all these little pillows. They were just as incredibly comfortable when I walked around and I figure that they'll be the perfect pair to wear when my feet are sore from walking. I don't think they'll last all that long because soles that soft just don't last but I think my feet will be very happy in them while they're still good.
When I started this post I didn't think it would be quite this long. I guess I've done quite a bit of shopping lately - certainly more than I thought I'd done! I still need a couple of t-shirts for summer but otherwise, I think I'm set. For now. :)
I decided to indulge in a little retail therapy afterwards. Between our upcoming trip and spring finally almost here I'm in the mood for some new clothes. I bought a gorgeous skater (short semi-circular) skirt in white polka dots on black. The skirt hangs the same way all the way around - even in the center front and center back! I know that this doesn't seem like a big deal to you but it is to me. My body isn't a cylinder; in fact, it's a bit wider in front and back than it is on the sides. As a result, semi-circular skirts like this tend to drape really well on the sides but are flat in the center front and back. Somehow this skirt actually drapes in the center front and back as well as the sides. It's truly awesome. It may look good on no one else but for me and my body type, it's perfect.
I also bought a tunic. I love the bottom because it has neat pockets. The neckline is a round jewel neckline so it's kind of boring but it'll be fine for me. The sleeves are 3/4 length which I don't love; I'll leave them for now but I might think about adding an extension to the sleeves when we get back. Maybe at the same time I'll think about re-working the neckline.... or not. We'll see.
I have to admit that today wasn't my only retail therapy adventure; I've also bought some stuff online lately. I don't remember everything I've purchased because it hasn't all arrived yet, but I know that I bought a couple of comfy dresses and maybe a top. I also bought this super-gorgeous tote bag:
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| Sydney Love Color Block Large Tote
13" high x 21.75" wide x 8.5" deep with 10.5" handle drop
|
Anyways, I had been carrying a large PC GREEN shopping tote bag with me when I traveled. It was the right size to comfortably carry everything but it didn't have a zipper, it was quite lightweight, and it had a big logo on the side. This bag is about the same size and is just as comfortable to carry but has a top zipper, no logo, and lots of small pockets. I carried it with me today and I'm very, very happy with it. Not only does it look awesome, it's comfortable to carry and holds a ton of stuff. I'm looking forward to carrying this whenever I travel.
I also bought a couple of pairs of walking shoes the other day. I replaced (again) my Merrell jungle mocs because they're so comfortable to wear and they hold up to hours of walking. I've been buying these shoes for quite a few years now. Although the soles don't last all that long and they can be slippery when they're wet, they're very comfortable when walking a lot. They also look nice enough with most pants and leggings.
I also bought a pair of these Skechers Go Walk shoes:
 |
| Skechers Go Walk shoes |
I hadn't planned on looking at them at all but when I first put them on, my feet felt like they were surrounded and cushioned by all these little pillows. They were just as incredibly comfortable when I walked around and I figure that they'll be the perfect pair to wear when my feet are sore from walking. I don't think they'll last all that long because soles that soft just don't last but I think my feet will be very happy in them while they're still good.
When I started this post I didn't think it would be quite this long. I guess I've done quite a bit of shopping lately - certainly more than I thought I'd done! I still need a couple of t-shirts for summer but otherwise, I think I'm set. For now. :)
Saturday, May 04, 2013
Shopping, shopping, and more shopping
I've been so busy lately with at least one appointment or commitment pretty much every weekday. So far I haven't been too overwhelmed but I'm starting to feel tired and edgy.
I've had an additional pressure for the last few weeks from getting ready for a trip next week. We have an opportunity to go to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and even though we don't like the heat or a lot of sunshine, a trip like this doesn't come around too often. Besides, we're staying at a resort, which we've never done before, and we might discover that we love the experience.
Going someplace hot and sunny means that we swimsuits for the pool and ocean as well as sun-protective clothing. In addition to my usual complement of activities - metalsmithing class, physiotherapy for the lymphedema, and doctors appointments - I've been doing a LOT of shopping. Yesterday, for example, I had an appointment in downtown Toronto (more on that tomorrow) and on the way there I stopped by the Sunveil store for a new sunveil jacket for each of us. I have a light blue button-up shirt that I bought years and years ago that's got grime on the cuffs that won't come out so I wanted to replace it.
I also stopped by the MEC to buy some long-sleeved sun-shirts/rashguards that have built-in sun protection for both Ian and myself. Finding long-sleeved shirts like this was quite difficult as the selection for adults is very low in local stores. While I was there, I bought myself a couple of bathing suits. During the last week I've been trying on swimsuits in all sorts of stores to try to figure out which styles are flattering and minimize the difference between my boobs. I don't really want to wear a prosthetic breast while in the pool or at the ocean but I also don't want the difference to be obvious to everyone. It turns out that halter tops with patterns work pretty well.
Trying on swimsuits is one of the most demoralizing activities ever. In my head my skin and muscles are firm and although I'm soft, I'm soft in a curvy way. The reality is that my skin is sagging, as are my muscles, and my legs are less shapely than lumpy and share certain characteristics with tree trunks. The wrong sized suit creates an unattractive muffin-top effect at my hips. I'm not the young woman I used to be and trying on swimsuits is a sad reminder of this fact.
In addition to the stuff I bought yesterday, I'd ordered sun-shirts/rashguards, swimsuits, and board shorts for me online. Not everything fits properly so much of it is being returned but some of it works.
I'm looking forward to the trip. It's a short one (only three nights away) so it'll be long enough to get a sense of what the area and staying at a resort are like. Plus now I have some relatively flattering suits and swimwear :)
I've had an additional pressure for the last few weeks from getting ready for a trip next week. We have an opportunity to go to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and even though we don't like the heat or a lot of sunshine, a trip like this doesn't come around too often. Besides, we're staying at a resort, which we've never done before, and we might discover that we love the experience.
Going someplace hot and sunny means that we swimsuits for the pool and ocean as well as sun-protective clothing. In addition to my usual complement of activities - metalsmithing class, physiotherapy for the lymphedema, and doctors appointments - I've been doing a LOT of shopping. Yesterday, for example, I had an appointment in downtown Toronto (more on that tomorrow) and on the way there I stopped by the Sunveil store for a new sunveil jacket for each of us. I have a light blue button-up shirt that I bought years and years ago that's got grime on the cuffs that won't come out so I wanted to replace it.
I also stopped by the MEC to buy some long-sleeved sun-shirts/rashguards that have built-in sun protection for both Ian and myself. Finding long-sleeved shirts like this was quite difficult as the selection for adults is very low in local stores. While I was there, I bought myself a couple of bathing suits. During the last week I've been trying on swimsuits in all sorts of stores to try to figure out which styles are flattering and minimize the difference between my boobs. I don't really want to wear a prosthetic breast while in the pool or at the ocean but I also don't want the difference to be obvious to everyone. It turns out that halter tops with patterns work pretty well.
Trying on swimsuits is one of the most demoralizing activities ever. In my head my skin and muscles are firm and although I'm soft, I'm soft in a curvy way. The reality is that my skin is sagging, as are my muscles, and my legs are less shapely than lumpy and share certain characteristics with tree trunks. The wrong sized suit creates an unattractive muffin-top effect at my hips. I'm not the young woman I used to be and trying on swimsuits is a sad reminder of this fact.
In addition to the stuff I bought yesterday, I'd ordered sun-shirts/rashguards, swimsuits, and board shorts for me online. Not everything fits properly so much of it is being returned but some of it works.
I'm looking forward to the trip. It's a short one (only three nights away) so it'll be long enough to get a sense of what the area and staying at a resort are like. Plus now I have some relatively flattering suits and swimwear :)
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Small changes on the way
We bought a new dryer to replace our old one and it'll be delivered on Thursday. We'd hoped to get a dryer that matched our washer, which we bought when we moved into the house. Unfortunately, while the style of dryer is still available, the colour we have ("night sky blue") has been discontinued. We didn't want to spend a lot of time shopping for dryers so our choices were between getting a matching style but a non matching colour or the upgraded version of our current dryer.
We ended up getting the updated version of our current dryer because it has a hamper door. This means it opens downward and can be used as a platform for sorting laundry. We love this door because some of our tops have to be hung up to dry and we can plop the laundry on the door and pull those ones out. Our washer and dryer are in the mudroom coming in from the garage and trying to sort the laundry straight out of the washer ends up with laundry all over the dirty floor.
In other news, I'm an Auntie again! Ian's brother and his wife had a baby girl on Tuesday. It's quite exciting to have a little person in the extended family.
We ended up getting the updated version of our current dryer because it has a hamper door. This means it opens downward and can be used as a platform for sorting laundry. We love this door because some of our tops have to be hung up to dry and we can plop the laundry on the door and pull those ones out. Our washer and dryer are in the mudroom coming in from the garage and trying to sort the laundry straight out of the washer ends up with laundry all over the dirty floor.
In other news, I'm an Auntie again! Ian's brother and his wife had a baby girl on Tuesday. It's quite exciting to have a little person in the extended family.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
My fun day out
I was feeling ok this morning so I was able to go out shopping with my friend - and enjoy it! I had a great time shopping and catching up with her today. She's starting a new job and needed a few pieces to round out her work wardrobe. Before we set out we went through her existing wardrobe so that we knew exactly what she needed: at least one pair of pants and tops with some colour.
We managed to find exactly what she was looking for at the Jones New York outlet! I was very impressed with their selection and the fit of their clothes because the clothes are made to fit real women with real curves. The pants she bought fit her perfectly and were very attractive and slimming (and on sale!). She also found a few tops in brighter colours that fit her very well and are flattering. Everything she bought coordinates with her existing wardrobe so now she has lots of mix and match wardrobe options. She'll be well-dressed and gorgeous at her job.
We had a light lunch while we were out and unfortunately the nausea returned afterward. I did have a yummy brownie that had a lot of fat in it so I wonder if there's something going on with my gallbladder or something. One of my sisters had hers out years ago because it wasn't working and if I remember rightly, she had symptoms similar to mine: nausea that almost feels like you should eat but if you do (or if I drink water) it gets worse, plus some abdominal pain. The pain isn't that bad but it's there sometimes.
My system does tend to be delicate so it's possible that it's out of balance somehow and that's what's causing the problem. I did have some pain a few days ago and had to take extra painkillers which may have caused some extra constipation even though I don't think I'm constipated. Whatever is causing this nausea, I wish it would stop because it's interfering with my life.
We managed to find exactly what she was looking for at the Jones New York outlet! I was very impressed with their selection and the fit of their clothes because the clothes are made to fit real women with real curves. The pants she bought fit her perfectly and were very attractive and slimming (and on sale!). She also found a few tops in brighter colours that fit her very well and are flattering. Everything she bought coordinates with her existing wardrobe so now she has lots of mix and match wardrobe options. She'll be well-dressed and gorgeous at her job.
We had a light lunch while we were out and unfortunately the nausea returned afterward. I did have a yummy brownie that had a lot of fat in it so I wonder if there's something going on with my gallbladder or something. One of my sisters had hers out years ago because it wasn't working and if I remember rightly, she had symptoms similar to mine: nausea that almost feels like you should eat but if you do (or if I drink water) it gets worse, plus some abdominal pain. The pain isn't that bad but it's there sometimes.
My system does tend to be delicate so it's possible that it's out of balance somehow and that's what's causing the problem. I did have some pain a few days ago and had to take extra painkillers which may have caused some extra constipation even though I don't think I'm constipated. Whatever is causing this nausea, I wish it would stop because it's interfering with my life.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Toys for Gozer
Because our cleaner was here today and it was so nice out this afternoon, Gozer and I went for a long walk. We went to the nearby pet store to wander around and see what was there. In a clearance bin I found a plush squeaky dog and when I squeezed it, Gozer perked right up. I figured that since she responded to the sound, I'd buy it for her. I also dropped a squeaky ball that's part of a puzzle thing and she started playing the ball and carrying it around the store. I bought that toy, too.
It turns out that the squeaky dog squeaks unlike any squeaky toy I've ever heard squeak. It has different squeaks depending on how hard and where it's squeezed and Gozer loves it. She left it upstairs when we came down to watch tv and before sitting down she had to run up and get it.
She doesn't just squeak the dog: she sleeps with it in her mouth. She's done that with all of her plush squeaky toys when they're given to her. It seems like it would be really uncomfortable because for a couple of these toys, she has to keep her mouth open fairly wide. She seems to like it, however. Her mouth does get very dry when she wakes up, which is kind of funny to watch.
I've looked up this behaviour on the interwebs and there are dogs out there that love to sleep with a blanket or plush toy in their mouths (squeaky or otherwise). Apparently once the behaviour has developed it's there for good. They'll give up the object when they have to but as soon as they have the opportunity they're sleeping with it in their mouths again. No one seems to know why some dogs do this but some seem to think it happens when dogs are taken from their mothers too soon (especially if they knead the object, which Gozer does not do), or have had more than one owner, or were rescue dogs.
We don't usually allow Gozer to have a plush toy in her kennel at night - she only gets one when we're going out - but I wonder if she would be happier with a regular kennel plush toy and a special one when we go out. She's been good in her kennel overnight so a regular plush toy probably isn't strictly necessary... although I do want her to be as happy as possible.
It turns out that the squeaky dog squeaks unlike any squeaky toy I've ever heard squeak. It has different squeaks depending on how hard and where it's squeezed and Gozer loves it. She left it upstairs when we came down to watch tv and before sitting down she had to run up and get it.
She doesn't just squeak the dog: she sleeps with it in her mouth. She's done that with all of her plush squeaky toys when they're given to her. It seems like it would be really uncomfortable because for a couple of these toys, she has to keep her mouth open fairly wide. She seems to like it, however. Her mouth does get very dry when she wakes up, which is kind of funny to watch.
I've looked up this behaviour on the interwebs and there are dogs out there that love to sleep with a blanket or plush toy in their mouths (squeaky or otherwise). Apparently once the behaviour has developed it's there for good. They'll give up the object when they have to but as soon as they have the opportunity they're sleeping with it in their mouths again. No one seems to know why some dogs do this but some seem to think it happens when dogs are taken from their mothers too soon (especially if they knead the object, which Gozer does not do), or have had more than one owner, or were rescue dogs.
We don't usually allow Gozer to have a plush toy in her kennel at night - she only gets one when we're going out - but I wonder if she would be happier with a regular kennel plush toy and a special one when we go out. She's been good in her kennel overnight so a regular plush toy probably isn't strictly necessary... although I do want her to be as happy as possible.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Finding a purse
My current purse appears to be on its last legs. The top zipper is coming apart from the panel and some of the binding is starting to come undone. It really looks shabby and I'm starting to feel a bit embarrassed bringing it out. I've been searching for a replacement purse for quite a while and I just haven't been able to find one that I like in my price range. If I was willing to spend a couple of thousand dollars my search would be over but I'm not prepared to spend that much.
I want a top-handled purse that's wider than it is tall and that also has a shoulder strap that I can wear across my body. It needs to have a top zipper, possibly covered by a flap, and at least one big compartment (two is better) as well as at least one small zippered compartment and some interior patch pockets. I'd prefer it to be black, grey, or burgundy/oxblood with silvertone, gunmetal, pewter, or black hardware that isn't too flashy.
For some reason I don't think that it should be hard to find a purse that meets my requirements but it turns out that this quest is next to impossible. I bought one online but it's way too big and looks like a piece of luggage. At this point I'm wondering whether or not I should try to make one. I've thought about trying to buy some leather and making it out of that... but I've never worked with leather before. Making a leather purse might not be all that smart, especially since I don't have a purse pattern ready.
I do have some heavier fabrics and I know I can get some coatings, faux leather or suede, and specialty hardware. I'm thinking that it might be worthwhile to try my hand at making my own purse. We'll see... I'm still thinking it over. Every time I search and cannot find the purse I want, the idea of making my own purse is more and more appealing.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Winter for Gozer
We received about six or eight inches of snow just before the temperature dropped to -15C (below -20C with the wind chill). None of us are used to the cold yet, although my long down coat definitely keeps me warm. Ian can look after himself but Gozer has been having a tough time in the cold. She's been getting huge snow- and ice-balls between the pads of her feet during her walks that have clearly been making her uncomfortable. She was holding up different paws when there was too much ice and walking more slowly, which we took to mean that she wasn't happy.
We'd bought her this lovely 3-in-1 coat with a detachable double-fleece lining and waterproof exterior a few weeks back that has been keeping her body warm enough.
She looks positively stylish in this coat, I have to say. It also comes in huge dog sizes of up to 30" length and 32-38" girth so dogs of every size can look awesome. Unfortunately, this coat doesn't cover Gozer's little feets so today we went out and bought her these fleece-lined muttluk booties in red to match her coat:
They had all-weather ones without the fleece lining but they only came in yellow in her size and Ian felt that the yellow would clash too much with her red coat. The red ones match her coat perfectly. We're now the kind of people that dress up our dog in matching clothes and booties.
There is just about nothing funnier than watching a dog try to walk in booties for the first time. The booties are unfamiliar and feel funny so the dog tries to find a way not to put all four paws on the ground, which of course is impossible. Gozer tolerated the front booties pretty well and ended up doing this crazy back step-kick thing with her back paws. We spent some time inside with the treats we bought for Sunday's training class getting her to walk from one of us to the other and back.
After about five or ten minutes on her evening walk she was walking in her booties as though she'd always worn them. I'm really impressed with her ability to adapt to this new situation: at no time did she lie on the ground looking pathetic or try to bite the booties off and although she was slow at the start of the walk, she didn't pull backwards on her leash.
If it gets a lot colder out, we could always buy Gozer a reversible snowsuit. Ian disagrees with me (mostly because they look silly) but I figure that it can still get a lot colder out there. Until she learns to do her business in the backyard, she's going to have to walk two or three times a day in the cold. While I'd like to think that she's smart enough to get the idea that if she does her thing in the yard she won't have to be out in the cold for as long, I'm not sure that's the case.
At least Gozer is well-prepared for current weather conditions and looks stylish, if a little silly. Hopefully the other dogs won't laugh at her booties and matching coat.
We'd bought her this lovely 3-in-1 coat with a detachable double-fleece lining and waterproof exterior a few weeks back that has been keeping her body warm enough.
There is just about nothing funnier than watching a dog try to walk in booties for the first time. The booties are unfamiliar and feel funny so the dog tries to find a way not to put all four paws on the ground, which of course is impossible. Gozer tolerated the front booties pretty well and ended up doing this crazy back step-kick thing with her back paws. We spent some time inside with the treats we bought for Sunday's training class getting her to walk from one of us to the other and back.
After about five or ten minutes on her evening walk she was walking in her booties as though she'd always worn them. I'm really impressed with her ability to adapt to this new situation: at no time did she lie on the ground looking pathetic or try to bite the booties off and although she was slow at the start of the walk, she didn't pull backwards on her leash.
If it gets a lot colder out, we could always buy Gozer a reversible snowsuit. Ian disagrees with me (mostly because they look silly) but I figure that it can still get a lot colder out there. Until she learns to do her business in the backyard, she's going to have to walk two or three times a day in the cold. While I'd like to think that she's smart enough to get the idea that if she does her thing in the yard she won't have to be out in the cold for as long, I'm not sure that's the case.
At least Gozer is well-prepared for current weather conditions and looks stylish, if a little silly. Hopefully the other dogs won't laugh at her booties and matching coat.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
My new warm coat
While we were visiting Ian's parents I took some time to do a little shopping. I don't know whether or not I've mentioned this before but I've been looking for a warm winter coat to wear while walking Gozer in the winter. I have a winter coat but it just isn't warm enough for me to be out for any length of time when it's really cold out. Add in the fact that I have temperature control issues (I get cold really easily and I start sweating when I'm cold, making me colder) and it's clear that I need a really warm coat.
Over the years I've bought a few winter coats and based on how well those coats worked for me, I developed a list of must-haves for this warm winter coat I wanted. A heavy-duty double zipper is an absolute necessity because a wimpy dress zipper can break too easily or not zip properly in the cold. It's also important to be able to unzip the coat from the bottom for walking or sitting. Storm cuffs - preferably made of ribbing or fleece so that they conform to the wrist and are warm - are also absolutely necessary because otherwise my wrists get cold or I get snow up my sleeves. I love having a hood to keep the wind off of my neck but it has to be adjustable so it doesn't fly off in the wind. For me to stay warm, the coat has to be at least knee length.
The warmest, lightest fill out there is down so I definitely wanted a down-filled coat. I did a bit of research and I found out that there are different fill combinations, with the most common being 50% down and 50% feathers. I read that the greater the proportion of down, the warmer the coat will be, so I decided that I wanted the the fill to be at least 60% down with no more than 40% feathers.
Surprisingly, out of all of those requirements, the hardest one to meet has been storm cuffs. Even the high-end coats that are super-warm with fill made of 90-100% down don't have storm cuffs. What's up with that? Clearly most super-warm coats aren't made for our Canadian winters. The lack of storm cuffs on winter coats has made this search take much longer than I thought it would.
Lucky for me, I finally found myself a coat that meets every one these requirements, including having storm cuffs! I went to Sporting Life and found myself this Canadian Spirit Rosedale coat in black, on sale for half price, making it below what I'd been prepared to pay.
Yep, I'm excited about this coat. On me, it comes down to just below mid-calf or to about the top of my boots which is perfect. There are zippers at the hem on each side to make walking easier, if I need the room. It's also got 90% down/10% feathers fill, making it super-warm. The only thing I was worried about was that it was too shapeless on me, or that it looked too much like I was wearing a down comforter because when I put it on it felt like I was wrapping myself in a down comforter.
I called Ian and described my dilemma. He pointed out that the kind of coat I was looking for would almost certainly be a bit shapeless on me and since this one met all my other requirements, I should buy it. So I did. He was surprised when he saw it because the chevron stitching and vertical lines are flattering. It's less of a shapeless comforter than I thought it would be - and did I mention that it's super-warm?
Because I'll be wearing this coat out in the cold and possibly the dark, I need to figure out a way to add some reflective tape or something to it without compromising the integrity of the coat. That way I'll be more visible to drivers and other people. I might be able to add some around the cuffs and hood. I could also maybe make a belt or something with the reflective tape - we'll see. I have to think about it.
I'm thrilled that I found the coat. I'm even more thrilled that I was purchased it for a reasonable amount and that I didn't have to sacrifice any of my requirements for it. I wore it out today while walking Gozer because it's cold and quite windy out there and I was snuggly warm in the coat. I felt the wind as pressure but not as a cold force on me. This coat is definitely everything I wanted it to be and I'm almost looking forward to wearing it in the deep cold that will be on its way.
Over the years I've bought a few winter coats and based on how well those coats worked for me, I developed a list of must-haves for this warm winter coat I wanted. A heavy-duty double zipper is an absolute necessity because a wimpy dress zipper can break too easily or not zip properly in the cold. It's also important to be able to unzip the coat from the bottom for walking or sitting. Storm cuffs - preferably made of ribbing or fleece so that they conform to the wrist and are warm - are also absolutely necessary because otherwise my wrists get cold or I get snow up my sleeves. I love having a hood to keep the wind off of my neck but it has to be adjustable so it doesn't fly off in the wind. For me to stay warm, the coat has to be at least knee length.
The warmest, lightest fill out there is down so I definitely wanted a down-filled coat. I did a bit of research and I found out that there are different fill combinations, with the most common being 50% down and 50% feathers. I read that the greater the proportion of down, the warmer the coat will be, so I decided that I wanted the the fill to be at least 60% down with no more than 40% feathers.
Surprisingly, out of all of those requirements, the hardest one to meet has been storm cuffs. Even the high-end coats that are super-warm with fill made of 90-100% down don't have storm cuffs. What's up with that? Clearly most super-warm coats aren't made for our Canadian winters. The lack of storm cuffs on winter coats has made this search take much longer than I thought it would.
Lucky for me, I finally found myself a coat that meets every one these requirements, including having storm cuffs! I went to Sporting Life and found myself this Canadian Spirit Rosedale coat in black, on sale for half price, making it below what I'd been prepared to pay.
Yep, I'm excited about this coat. On me, it comes down to just below mid-calf or to about the top of my boots which is perfect. There are zippers at the hem on each side to make walking easier, if I need the room. It's also got 90% down/10% feathers fill, making it super-warm. The only thing I was worried about was that it was too shapeless on me, or that it looked too much like I was wearing a down comforter because when I put it on it felt like I was wrapping myself in a down comforter.
I called Ian and described my dilemma. He pointed out that the kind of coat I was looking for would almost certainly be a bit shapeless on me and since this one met all my other requirements, I should buy it. So I did. He was surprised when he saw it because the chevron stitching and vertical lines are flattering. It's less of a shapeless comforter than I thought it would be - and did I mention that it's super-warm?
Because I'll be wearing this coat out in the cold and possibly the dark, I need to figure out a way to add some reflective tape or something to it without compromising the integrity of the coat. That way I'll be more visible to drivers and other people. I might be able to add some around the cuffs and hood. I could also maybe make a belt or something with the reflective tape - we'll see. I have to think about it.
I'm thrilled that I found the coat. I'm even more thrilled that I was purchased it for a reasonable amount and that I didn't have to sacrifice any of my requirements for it. I wore it out today while walking Gozer because it's cold and quite windy out there and I was snuggly warm in the coat. I felt the wind as pressure but not as a cold force on me. This coat is definitely everything I wanted it to be and I'm almost looking forward to wearing it in the deep cold that will be on its way.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Shopping for Gozer
We took Gozer shopping while the house was cleaned today. There's a Ren's Pet Depot about a 15 or 20 minute walk away so we went there. While Gozer was fairly well-behaved most of the time, Ian had to take her out of the store a few times when her barking, lunging, leaping alter-ego showed up. One of these days we'd love it if she didn't bark at other dogs.
We ended up buying her two new coats. One is similar to the one she got when she left the Humane Society and the other is a fancy waterproof outer shell with a double-layered fleece detachable liner. The shell and liner can be worn together or separately so it's basically a 3-in-1 coat. It cost more than some coats we've bought for ourselves!
We also bought her some new toys: a Nylabone bone, a Nylabone ring, and a stuffed hippo. She hasn't shown any interest in the Nylabone products but that might be because she's so much more interested in the hippo. She took it right away and likes playing with it to make it squeak. She's also spent most of the evening asleep between my legs on the chair with the hippo in her mouth. You'd think her jaw would get sore but she seems quite content.
We also bought her some hypoallergenic shampoo. The red bumps on her belly are still there even though the antibiotics end tomorrow. She also scratches at her belly a lot and worries at her paws with her teeth so we think she might have sensitive skin. Of course we haven't given her a bath yet so her fur is a little dirty, which could be contributing to her itchiness.
We spent about an hour at the store and we have very few things to show for it. Making decisions is hard! Will she want this toy, or that one? This bone, or that one? This brand, or the other one? At the same time, it was kind of fun because we got to see her reaction to the toys and squeaks and we could try on the different coats. She wears different sizes depending on the brand so trying things on is important. I love that I can take her into the store with us (even if she does bark).
Shopping for Gozer is nearly as much fun as shopping for myself... and only slightly less expensive. Watching her carry around the stuffed hippo makes the adventure well worth the adventure.
We ended up buying her two new coats. One is similar to the one she got when she left the Humane Society and the other is a fancy waterproof outer shell with a double-layered fleece detachable liner. The shell and liner can be worn together or separately so it's basically a 3-in-1 coat. It cost more than some coats we've bought for ourselves!
We also bought her some new toys: a Nylabone bone, a Nylabone ring, and a stuffed hippo. She hasn't shown any interest in the Nylabone products but that might be because she's so much more interested in the hippo. She took it right away and likes playing with it to make it squeak. She's also spent most of the evening asleep between my legs on the chair with the hippo in her mouth. You'd think her jaw would get sore but she seems quite content.
We also bought her some hypoallergenic shampoo. The red bumps on her belly are still there even though the antibiotics end tomorrow. She also scratches at her belly a lot and worries at her paws with her teeth so we think she might have sensitive skin. Of course we haven't given her a bath yet so her fur is a little dirty, which could be contributing to her itchiness.
We spent about an hour at the store and we have very few things to show for it. Making decisions is hard! Will she want this toy, or that one? This bone, or that one? This brand, or the other one? At the same time, it was kind of fun because we got to see her reaction to the toys and squeaks and we could try on the different coats. She wears different sizes depending on the brand so trying things on is important. I love that I can take her into the store with us (even if she does bark).
Shopping for Gozer is nearly as much fun as shopping for myself... and only slightly less expensive. Watching her carry around the stuffed hippo makes the adventure well worth the adventure.
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Christmas party tomorrow
Ian's Christmas party is tomorrow night. I bought six different dresses online over the last few weeks and of those, only two looked good. I'm sending the other four back because they just don't look right. I'd have worn last year's dress the dress from two years ago* but I've lost about ten pounds since then and it doesn't fit. Besides, I couldn't make these dresses for what I paid for them.
These are the two dresses I ended up liking and keeping:
Obviously both are knee-length on me but fortunately they look good at that length. I have a slight preference for dress #2 because it covers more of my back meaning I don't have to worry about my patches showing through. It also has a soft, warm, stretchy lining which I think will keep me warmer than I'd be in dress #1. I do love dress #1 because it is gorgeous but I think it needs to be saved for a non-winter occasion. I'll save it for another day.
Aside from finding myself a dress for the party, I've done no other shopping in preparation. I'm going to wear the shoes I bought a couple of years ago because they're comfortable and look nice. I've got enough hosiery that I'll be able to figure out something to go with the dress and shoes. I also have plenty of makeup so I didn't need to get any of that, either. Hopefully this means that I'll be relaxed before tomorrow night's party.
* For some reason, as I was writing that, I completely blocked out the fact that I didn't go to last year's party because I was in Edmonton after my mom died. It's weird: I remember what happened last year but somehow it's like it all happened in this alternate world.
These are the two dresses I ended up liking and keeping:
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| Dress #1, by Armand Basi |
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| Dress #2, by Suzi Chin |
Obviously both are knee-length on me but fortunately they look good at that length. I have a slight preference for dress #2 because it covers more of my back meaning I don't have to worry about my patches showing through. It also has a soft, warm, stretchy lining which I think will keep me warmer than I'd be in dress #1. I do love dress #1 because it is gorgeous but I think it needs to be saved for a non-winter occasion. I'll save it for another day.
Aside from finding myself a dress for the party, I've done no other shopping in preparation. I'm going to wear the shoes I bought a couple of years ago because they're comfortable and look nice. I've got enough hosiery that I'll be able to figure out something to go with the dress and shoes. I also have plenty of makeup so I didn't need to get any of that, either. Hopefully this means that I'll be relaxed before tomorrow night's party.
* For some reason, as I was writing that, I completely blocked out the fact that I didn't go to last year's party because I was in Edmonton after my mom died. It's weird: I remember what happened last year but somehow it's like it all happened in this alternate world.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Shopping for our dog
I figured that since our soon-to-be furchild is coming home this weekend I should pick up some supplies. I ended up spending about two hours trying to figure out which things she might like and which we need right away. Before doing the shopping, I visited her just to see how she was doing after being spayed on Wednesday. They shaved off all of her fur! I didn't even recognize her when I first saw her. She looked so sad being all furless! Because it's cold out and she's bald all over, I bought a tshirt, fleece thingy, and a sweater for her to wear while walking.
She's healing well from the surgery although she's quite lethargic and slow. She's still on painkillers until Apparently she hadn't responded well to wearing a cone so she wasn't wearing one but fortunately she hasn't been pulling at her incision or anything. When I first sat with her she was all trembly but she relaxed very quickly into my arms while I pet her and talked to her. I think she'll be much more comfortable once she comes home.
I ended up buying a ton of stuff, including the above-mentioned shirts, a couple of different collars, food, treats, a crate, and some toys. Trying to decide what to buy for her was really hard because I've never had a dog and I have no idea what this dog likes. She doesn't play with toys in the shelter and I don't have any idea which toys she might like to play with at home so I just picked a couple basically at random. I don't even know which collars will be best, or which seatbelt contraptions, so I got different kinds of each one. I did buy the same food that she's been eating at the shelter because I don't want to upset her tummy.
We're going to need to buy many more things for our furchild but at least we we have enough stuff to get started and to make her comfortable when she comes home. After she's fully recovered from the surgery we'll be able to take her into the store so that she can pick our her own toys and treats.
I'm looking forward to bringing her home on Sunday. Of course we still don't have a name for her but we're still working on it; right now we're looking at names of flowers as possibilities. One way or another, she'll have a name on Sunday.
She's healing well from the surgery although she's quite lethargic and slow. She's still on painkillers until Apparently she hadn't responded well to wearing a cone so she wasn't wearing one but fortunately she hasn't been pulling at her incision or anything. When I first sat with her she was all trembly but she relaxed very quickly into my arms while I pet her and talked to her. I think she'll be much more comfortable once she comes home.
I ended up buying a ton of stuff, including the above-mentioned shirts, a couple of different collars, food, treats, a crate, and some toys. Trying to decide what to buy for her was really hard because I've never had a dog and I have no idea what this dog likes. She doesn't play with toys in the shelter and I don't have any idea which toys she might like to play with at home so I just picked a couple basically at random. I don't even know which collars will be best, or which seatbelt contraptions, so I got different kinds of each one. I did buy the same food that she's been eating at the shelter because I don't want to upset her tummy.
We're going to need to buy many more things for our furchild but at least we we have enough stuff to get started and to make her comfortable when she comes home. After she's fully recovered from the surgery we'll be able to take her into the store so that she can pick our her own toys and treats.
I'm looking forward to bringing her home on Sunday. Of course we still don't have a name for her but we're still working on it; right now we're looking at names of flowers as possibilities. One way or another, she'll have a name on Sunday.
Friday, November 04, 2011
Conference in Baltimore
The day after the Toronto After Dark Film Festival finished, I went to Baltimore for a one-day conference on living with metastatic breast cancer that was sponsored by the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network (MBCN). When I booked the trip I didn't care so much about the conference itself; my whole reason for going was to hang out with my friends.
I was able to take an earlier combination of flights to Baltimore which meant that I could have a nap before the evening's get-together and dinner. One thing I loved about this particular hotel was the sheets on the bed. They were the softest, smoothest, most comfortable sheets I've ever slept on ever in my life. We all raved about these sheets because they were so awesome. It turns out that they're Comphy microfiber sheets and they can be purchased for home use. Ian doesn't love smooth sheets but I'm going to buy these anyways because they're so amazingly soft and comfortable. Even though they were polyester microfiber, I didn't sweat or feel hot at all; they felt and breathed like the softest silk.
We ate at the hotel that night and although the food was great, the service was terrible. Our server didn't ask whether the 14 of us wanted separate bills and gave us one ginormous bill that we couldn't divide because we didn't know what was taxed at what rate. she was cranky throughout our service and when we asked her to separate the bills she got really angry. She took 45 minutes to separate our bills out for us and she wasn't separating them that whole time; she went for a walk and was talking on the phone.
The conference itself was much more informative than I thought it would be. I figured that I'd hear information I'd heard before but they actually talked about new-to-me things. They talked about cutting-edge treatments in vaccines, for example, and how they worked which I knew nothing about.
At lunch on Saturday we took a photo of us all. Notice the boots I'm wearing - they're the Frye Veronica slouch boots that I'd wanted. Yes, I bought them! They're so comfortable and gorgeous.... just like all of the women in this picture.
I left the conference a bit early because I was still really tired. Although I'd planned to get up around 6pm, I someone called to wake me at 8pm and I rushed out to dinner. I was so happy they waited for me! We went down to the Fell's Point area for Spanish Tapas and then the yummiest gelato and sipping chocolate. We hadn't known that Fell's Point was the main area for all the bars and stuff and we hadn't thought about the fact that it was the weekend before Halloween. We were pleasantly surprised to see all those people dressed up for Halloween. Watching costumed people walk by is an interesting pastime although it would have been more fun if they weren't all drunk.
As great a time as I'd had talking and catching up with people, I was really tired after being away from home for so long and I wanted to get home. My flights were delayed and I freaked out a bit but I made it home safely. I've spent the week catching up and relaxing and I think I'm finally mostly normal.
I was able to take an earlier combination of flights to Baltimore which meant that I could have a nap before the evening's get-together and dinner. One thing I loved about this particular hotel was the sheets on the bed. They were the softest, smoothest, most comfortable sheets I've ever slept on ever in my life. We all raved about these sheets because they were so awesome. It turns out that they're Comphy microfiber sheets and they can be purchased for home use. Ian doesn't love smooth sheets but I'm going to buy these anyways because they're so amazingly soft and comfortable. Even though they were polyester microfiber, I didn't sweat or feel hot at all; they felt and breathed like the softest silk.
We ate at the hotel that night and although the food was great, the service was terrible. Our server didn't ask whether the 14 of us wanted separate bills and gave us one ginormous bill that we couldn't divide because we didn't know what was taxed at what rate. she was cranky throughout our service and when we asked her to separate the bills she got really angry. She took 45 minutes to separate our bills out for us and she wasn't separating them that whole time; she went for a walk and was talking on the phone.
The conference itself was much more informative than I thought it would be. I figured that I'd hear information I'd heard before but they actually talked about new-to-me things. They talked about cutting-edge treatments in vaccines, for example, and how they worked which I knew nothing about.
At lunch on Saturday we took a photo of us all. Notice the boots I'm wearing - they're the Frye Veronica slouch boots that I'd wanted. Yes, I bought them! They're so comfortable and gorgeous.... just like all of the women in this picture.
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| Baltimore MBCN 2011 conference group photo I'm in the tie-dye top in front (wearing the great boots). |
I left the conference a bit early because I was still really tired. Although I'd planned to get up around 6pm, I someone called to wake me at 8pm and I rushed out to dinner. I was so happy they waited for me! We went down to the Fell's Point area for Spanish Tapas and then the yummiest gelato and sipping chocolate. We hadn't known that Fell's Point was the main area for all the bars and stuff and we hadn't thought about the fact that it was the weekend before Halloween. We were pleasantly surprised to see all those people dressed up for Halloween. Watching costumed people walk by is an interesting pastime although it would have been more fun if they weren't all drunk.
As great a time as I'd had talking and catching up with people, I was really tired after being away from home for so long and I wanted to get home. My flights were delayed and I freaked out a bit but I made it home safely. I've spent the week catching up and relaxing and I think I'm finally mostly normal.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Book publishing revolution on the way
One of the great things about the Amazon book marketplace is that writers have the opportunity to publish their own work. The big publishing companies no longer have the most control over which books are published and while writers can publish their work through vanity presses, they don't have to go to that expense anymore. These days, they can upload their work on amazon, charge $0.99 or $2.99 - almost always for less than $5 - and wait for the readers to find them.
Obviously this - on top of digital books - will revolutionize the publishing industry and I imagine that the main publishers are running a bit scared. The traditional publishing industry doesn't need to give up just yet, however, because they have one thing that many self-publishing writers lack: editors.
Sadly, it seems that many self-publishing authors are unable to spell- or grammar check their works. Many others have no idea how to pluralize a noun, so that something like "the students went to the mall" is often written as "the student's went to the mall". Other common issues include things like their/they're/there, to/two/too, hear/here, and anonymous/anomalous homophones as well as dangling modifiers, comma splices, and inability to keep to one narrative mode.
Sure, these works are cheap, and some say that you get what you pay for so one's expectations should be lower. My expectations are lower with self-published books than books from the main publishers but I still expect basic editing to be completed before the work is published. I've heard that editing costs about $2500 - $3000 per work which would be prohibitively expensive if the author doesn't expect to recoup that cost through sales.
Even so, there must be people out there who are willing to go over the work and edit it without changing the story who are willing to give their help. Maybe authors can help each other by editing each other's works. I don't know what the solution to this issue will be; all I know is that my willingness to take a chance on an unknown author decreases every time I read another self-published book lacking basic editing.
I used to just go ahead and buy the books because they were cheap. Then I read samples of the works, but that's a pain and doesn't always give a true picture. Now I only consider self-published books that have been reviewed: I skim through the reviews first and if I find one that says that the work is in sore need of editing, I bypass it. If there are no such reviews, I download a sample and read that before buying the book. This is a whole lot of work to do for a cheap book, isn't it?
Honestly, sometimes it's just not worth doing, and that's a shame. There are lots of gems hidden in these self-published works but they're easy to overlook because of the sheer volume of badly edited works in the same category. Until these authors realize that good editing is as crucial to the success of their work as the initial idea and story and find a way to get their works edited, self-published works won't be seen and so won't be any kind of threat to the major publishers. The publishing revolution will have to wait.
Obviously this - on top of digital books - will revolutionize the publishing industry and I imagine that the main publishers are running a bit scared. The traditional publishing industry doesn't need to give up just yet, however, because they have one thing that many self-publishing writers lack: editors.
Sadly, it seems that many self-publishing authors are unable to spell- or grammar check their works. Many others have no idea how to pluralize a noun, so that something like "the students went to the mall" is often written as "the student's went to the mall". Other common issues include things like their/they're/there, to/two/too, hear/here, and anonymous/anomalous homophones as well as dangling modifiers, comma splices, and inability to keep to one narrative mode.
Sure, these works are cheap, and some say that you get what you pay for so one's expectations should be lower. My expectations are lower with self-published books than books from the main publishers but I still expect basic editing to be completed before the work is published. I've heard that editing costs about $2500 - $3000 per work which would be prohibitively expensive if the author doesn't expect to recoup that cost through sales.
Even so, there must be people out there who are willing to go over the work and edit it without changing the story who are willing to give their help. Maybe authors can help each other by editing each other's works. I don't know what the solution to this issue will be; all I know is that my willingness to take a chance on an unknown author decreases every time I read another self-published book lacking basic editing.
I used to just go ahead and buy the books because they were cheap. Then I read samples of the works, but that's a pain and doesn't always give a true picture. Now I only consider self-published books that have been reviewed: I skim through the reviews first and if I find one that says that the work is in sore need of editing, I bypass it. If there are no such reviews, I download a sample and read that before buying the book. This is a whole lot of work to do for a cheap book, isn't it?
Honestly, sometimes it's just not worth doing, and that's a shame. There are lots of gems hidden in these self-published works but they're easy to overlook because of the sheer volume of badly edited works in the same category. Until these authors realize that good editing is as crucial to the success of their work as the initial idea and story and find a way to get their works edited, self-published works won't be seen and so won't be any kind of threat to the major publishers. The publishing revolution will have to wait.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
I'm having a party
I'm hosting my very first Pampered Chef party tomorrow evening. Although Ian and I have hosted one or two parties together, I've never hosted a party on my own so I'm quite nervous. Whenever I've had people come into the house like this, I spend time upgrading things and adding little touches to make the house look more homey. Basically, I set things up one way knowing that things need to be added but I don't add them until other people outside the family are going to be seeing things.
So we spent today hanging pictures and shopping for a mirror for the main bathroom and shopping for the food that'll be served tomorrow. The consultant is making a recipe for which I need ingredients and I hope to make some cookies tomorrow for which I need other ingredients. While we were doing all of this, we were also doing laundry because Ian is heading to another office tomorrow for a few days. And he was curling tonight. I'm sure you can imagine what a turmoil our household has been in all day :)
Fortunately, I don't have too much left to do tomorrow. I have to do dishes and generally tidy up for the cleaning person and then make the cookies. They dough gets refrigerated partway through so I think I can probably get at least half the batch baked up. If not, I have other food to serve my guests.
If you're reading this, live within reasonable driving distance (or are willing to pay for me to ship it to you - sorry, only in Canada), and are interested in ordering Pampered Chef products, you can place an order with me up until this Thursday. Just have a look at the catalogue; I think you're able to place an order online from that link. If that link doesn't work, let me know what you want and I'll place the order for you.
UPDATE: My consultant is experiencing an emergency and had to cancel tonight's party. We're re-scheduling the show for mid-November and she's promised me that we'll still be able to take advantage of the October 20% off stoneware special.
So we spent today hanging pictures and shopping for a mirror for the main bathroom and shopping for the food that'll be served tomorrow. The consultant is making a recipe for which I need ingredients and I hope to make some cookies tomorrow for which I need other ingredients. While we were doing all of this, we were also doing laundry because Ian is heading to another office tomorrow for a few days. And he was curling tonight. I'm sure you can imagine what a turmoil our household has been in all day :)
Fortunately, I don't have too much left to do tomorrow. I have to do dishes and generally tidy up for the cleaning person and then make the cookies. They dough gets refrigerated partway through so I think I can probably get at least half the batch baked up. If not, I have other food to serve my guests.
If you're reading this, live within reasonable driving distance (or are willing to pay for me to ship it to you - sorry, only in Canada), and are interested in ordering Pampered Chef products, you can place an order with me up until this Thursday. Just have a look at the catalogue; I think you're able to place an order online from that link. If that link doesn't work, let me know what you want and I'll place the order for you.
UPDATE: My consultant is experiencing an emergency and had to cancel tonight's party. We're re-scheduling the show for mid-November and she's promised me that we'll still be able to take advantage of the October 20% off stoneware special.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Hunting for boots
Although I bought myself a new pair of winter boots recently, I've been on the hunt for some fashion boots that I can wear with skirts and skinny pants during non-freezing weather. There are so many great boots out there that work with the kind of things I wear. The trouble is that I have a hard time finding boots that fit because I have short legs and, ahem, "curvy" calves.
I've spent quite a bit of time looking at boots online and I have a few favourites. If I had normal-sized calves I'd definitely go with a tall, fully-laced boot like this one:
Oh, how I love them! Sadly, there's no way that they'd fit and look good on me. There are shorter lace-up alternatives out there and while they're ok, I don't love them as much as the taller versions. As well, the shorter lace-up boots also remind me of the boots that were around 20 or 25 years ago and I'm not sure that I'd want to wear something I saw a lot back in the day.
Of course there are other styles that I'm drawn to, like these tall slightly slouchy boots:
These gorgeous boots are ridiculously expensive. I've only seen them online and I don't want to just buy them sight unseen without ever having tried them on. It's one thing if I try them on, they fit perfectly, and look fantastic on me because then I could justify the cost. However, there's no way I want to spend that much on something that isn't right.
Fortunately, I think my favourite shoe store in Guelph carries that brand so I'll see if I can try them on there before my psychologist's appointment on Friday. Even if they don't have the exact same style, they'll have others that I might like. And if I don't find boots there, well, I'll be in Toronto late next week and I can continue the hunt.
No discussion of footwear would be complete without mentioning my mostest favouritest type of shoes ever: the wingtip. I have always loved wingtip shoes and they're back. If I had unlimited money, I'd buy this pair:
I love love love love the multiple colours - aren't they gorgeous? I'd love to own them! That's not likely to happen - ever - as they cost even more than those boots above and if I had to choose between these shoes and boots, well, I'd have to choose the boots. Here's hoping I actually find a pair!
I've spent quite a bit of time looking at boots online and I have a few favourites. If I had normal-sized calves I'd definitely go with a tall, fully-laced boot like this one:
Oh, how I love them! Sadly, there's no way that they'd fit and look good on me. There are shorter lace-up alternatives out there and while they're ok, I don't love them as much as the taller versions. As well, the shorter lace-up boots also remind me of the boots that were around 20 or 25 years ago and I'm not sure that I'd want to wear something I saw a lot back in the day.
Of course there are other styles that I'm drawn to, like these tall slightly slouchy boots:
These gorgeous boots are ridiculously expensive. I've only seen them online and I don't want to just buy them sight unseen without ever having tried them on. It's one thing if I try them on, they fit perfectly, and look fantastic on me because then I could justify the cost. However, there's no way I want to spend that much on something that isn't right.
Fortunately, I think my favourite shoe store in Guelph carries that brand so I'll see if I can try them on there before my psychologist's appointment on Friday. Even if they don't have the exact same style, they'll have others that I might like. And if I don't find boots there, well, I'll be in Toronto late next week and I can continue the hunt.
No discussion of footwear would be complete without mentioning my mostest favouritest type of shoes ever: the wingtip. I have always loved wingtip shoes and they're back. If I had unlimited money, I'd buy this pair:
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
New winter clothing
I purchased a pair of these fine Sorel Tivoli 2011 winter boots today. I've been looking for a good pair of winter boots since last winter but I couldn't find the right style for me. I'd been trying to find taller lace-up boots but my calves are so big that most tall boots don't fit properly - either the laces are so wide that they look silly or the boots are all stretched and unattractive on the calves and folding strangely at my ankles, causing friction and blisters.
So I gave up on finding tall lace-up winter boots in favour of these shorter boots. Every pair of good winter snow boots I've bought are just above the ankle because they're easy to get into and comfortable to wear while walking around outside. These boots are waterproof, very warm, and have great traction with that rubber sole. They're not just functional, either; personally, I think they're great-looking boots and I love the styling with all that white trim and the stitching lines. I can hardly wait to wear these this winter.
I was also looking for a new winter coat as mine is getting a bit raggedy but I couldn't find any I liked. I'm looking for a long (mid-calf, or just above where the boots hit), black or dark grey coat, most likely down-filled with a covered front zipper, elastic at the wrists, a poufy collar and/or hood, and some stitching to create a curvy shape and to narrow in the waist. If I was a person of a more normal height then I could easily find such a coat... but since I'm short, the stitching lines are all in the wrong place. Finding a coat might take a while.
I'm still working on the red carpet post and hope to have it up by Friday.
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