general update

Went biking with David. I'm getting used to getting up at 6:30 a.m. every Wednesday now. I stagger out of bed, phone David to let him know that I did indeed wake up on time, get my biking gear (which I carefully lay out on the dining room table the night before because I know I'll be too braindead in the morning to remember everything). I still managed to forget my water bottle this morning, though.

We had been planning to go to the Beaches area this morning, but Dave still can't find his shades! (we'd be riding into the morning sun on the way there) So we opted for Etobicoke instead. PERFECT cycling weather this morning, warm and slightly breezy, clear blue sky. On the way there I forced David to stop at a playground so we could go on the swings (no one was there so fortunately I didn't have to kick any little kids off the equipment). I only lasted about ten minutes or so; I got motion sickness...how embarrassing!!! and then we went to check out the Sir (some guy's name...Cyril? David, help me out here) Gzowki memorial historical monument thingy, which David had always been curious about. Then we went out past the Humber Bay Biker Bridge (or whatever it's called) into Etobicoke-land and sat out on the rocks in the sun. Lots of birds....Canada geese, swifts, red-winged blackbirds, seagulls, and even a lone swan came to check us out. David figured out the automatic timer feature on my camera and we got a picture with both of us in it...I'll post it here when I get the film developed. It was beautiful and warm and sunny and both of us felt like staying there, but of course we couldn't and finally headed home. Got back by 9.

Looks like the boxing classes are out for me. :-( They've been scheduled for Thursday nights, which is UT practice night. Ah well...

I haven't checked out our fridge poetry lately (we have three sets of fridge poetry magnets) and here's what's up right now:

never have poison candy

poetry is a naked god

yesterday i picked the secret question

i am rhythm & a dark kiss

Eek! I found out that my father is starting to read my Blatherings. I guess this means I have to stop talking about all the wild drug-and-orgy parties that Jeff and I go to every night. I should be fine, though, as long as he doesn't check out our song repertoire and see which songs I wrote...

Today's Site of the Day is courtesy Mark Osier and Kathy Cogswell:
Oinker.net

cottage report

Delayed cottage report: Very relaxing. I slept most of the weekend and managed to get rid of my cold. In spite of the reports that moose were being driven out of the Algonquin Park forests by the blackflies and mosquitoes, I ended up with only three bug bites. Though I suppose this isn't TOO surprising with the two-inch layer of insect repellent and sunscreen I had on every inch of my body at all times. :-) I even got some paddling in. Jeff and I hope to go on a canoe trip later this summer, and I need to get in practice. I used to go camping with my family years ago, but have never been on an overnight canoe trip. Anyway, I dutifully practiced my J-stroke and bow draws, but still find it difficult to "single" (be the only person in the canoe) in windy weather. I need more practice, and also learn how to paddle on the left side as well as the right. Explanation of the term "J-stroke" for those who aren't familiar...if you use a certain type of stroke while paddling (looks sort of like a J, hence the name), you can effectively navigate/control a canoe whilst sitting only on one side...none of this flapping about first on the left, then on the right, then on the left, etc. It's a bit tricky at first, but Jeff's a good teacher (he has to be, considering how uncoordinated I am). I'm also hoping to get in some whitewater practice before next fall, when we're going on a canoe trip on the Nahanni (a river in the Northwest Territories). The trip's been booked, no backing out now. :-)

Many, many thanks to my friend Cathy Rutland, who taped the season finale episode of X-Files for Jeff and me on Sunday! I got the tape from her today and we're going to check it out tonight.

writer's digest profile

An update: Well, I didn't get to the movie after all. Just before I left this afternoon to do some babysitting for Ruth (and then go straight to meet Allison and Jodi), I decided to check my editor mailbox one last time. Found a letter from Writer's Digest Publications...they want to do a profile of me in the 1999 edition of the official Writer's Market! Very cool. Except they needed a b&w photo by MONDAY as well as some profile info. The info was no problem, but the photo? I don't have a decent professional photo. The message also said that if they didn't hear from me by the end of today (the message was dated yesterday), they'd have to choose someone else because of tight deadlines. (!)

Of course I couldn't pass up this opportunity, so I went into panic mode. Phoned and emailed a confirmation. Told Ruth I couldn't babysit, told Allison & Jodi I couldn't do the movie thing. Called a bunch of places in the yellow pages to find someone who could take a b&w headshot of me and have it printed by tomorrow morning. Found a decent blouse ("do I want to go casual yet professional? businesslike yet fun? aaaauugggh..."). Looked at my ponytail head (I tend to put my hair in a loose ponytail while it's still wet after my shower; who sees me when I'm working at home, after all?). Went to the mall across the street to find someone who could make my hair look semi-sane in fifteen minutes max. Fortunately the talky hairdresser was busy with another customer so I used someone else. Bought some makeup at a drugstore (I don't tend to wear makeup, but I had major sun-blotchy face and also circles under my eyes from some insomnia last night). Got to the photographer's studio about ten minutes early, put on some makeup in a dingy little washroom where the hot water tap wasn't working. The photo session itself was pretty quick and painless. I came back a couple hours later when the proofs were ready and chose two shots I liked, ordered prints. I'm picking the prints up tomorrow and will courier one of them to Writer's Digest along with my profile info (which I'm also sending by email, but if I'm already paying for the courier I figure I might as well get my money's worth).

Anyway, the 1999 Writer's Market should be out near the end of this year, and my profile should appear in the online markets section. Hopefully I won't come off looking/sounding too geeky! I'll try to scan one of the pics I chose off the contact sheet (I don't pick up the actual photo until tomorrow) to post above. Going to work on the profile now...

From this morning...

Allison, Jodi and I are going to see Quest For Camelot tonight in lieu of practice. We haven't heard wonderful reviews of the movie, but it's something we've decided to see anyway. :-) So has anyone seen Godzilla? What did people think? I was going to go see it but have been scared by all the bad reviews (both from media and friends).

Jeff and I had dinner with his mom at a great King St. restaurant called ISTRIA. The menu was the kind with yummy and incredibly long descriptions that make you want to order everything. I tried the fennel tempura, which was remarkably good!

Happy birthday to LYANNE QUIRT, who turns 16 today!

writer's digest photo

Thanks to everyone who voted...you all preferred the same photo (see above), so that's the one I chose. :-) Sent the photo to Writer's Digest by UPS this afternoon as well as the profile text. I'll only believe for sure that they used all this info when I actually SEE it in the 1999 edition of Writer's Market, but so far it sounds like it's a sure thing; the editor and I have been emailing back and forth confirming info and delivery details, etc.

Came down with some BIZARRE flu virus yesterday (no wonder I felt so icky all day). Jeff and I had exactly the same symptoms...achey, sore throat, dizzy, temperature of about 100. We collapsed around 10 pm, which is unusually early for us. Woke up this morning (or at least I did) feeling pretty much fine.

Sara went to visit Jeff at his office today and was apparently quite the hit. :-) She went up to the receptionist and politely asked, "I'd like to see my Uncle Jeff, please" and immediately several heads poked out from various offices...Jeff talks about Sara a lot at work, I guess. :-)

shower

Good luck to Scott and Amanda Snyder, who are moving to California tomorrow where Scott will start his new job at Accolade! To Howard: sorry to hear about your computer problems. :( Annie: hope you had a good holiday! Hope you had fun working on the Phoenix CD and solo tape...I'm also excited about your new harp!!

Jeff and I went to an all-you-can-eat sushifest at Fune on Saturday night with a bunch of folks including Rand, who was visiting. Went to the Spike and Mike Sick and Twisted Animation Festival afterwards (sadly, three films were censored out of the program at the last minute). It ended quite late, so Rand ended up staying over.

Went to a birthday/baby party/shower at a friend's place yesterday. Michelle Sagara (also uses the pen name Michelle West on some of her books) had a baby boy very recently...very cute. I got to hold him for a while, and he didn't even throw up on me. Jeff and I gave SuperSoaker waterguns to the two birthday boys (Michelle's other son Daniel, who just turned 5, and also our friend John)...Daniel and John immediately took the SuperSoakers outside to try out. They both ended up soaked (as is appropriate, considering the name) and didn't come inside for at least half an hour. Daniel's parents both thanked me for the gift and said they would find a way to repay me for my kindness. Oh dear.