run for the cure

As some of you already know, my Aunt Agnes died from breast cancer two years ago. My Uncle John asked me to consider participating in the CIBC Run For The Cure this Sunday, which is an annual event organized by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Since I started running in the spring, I never thought I'd ever want to participate in an organized running event. But this is different. Having lost my mother, grandmother and aunt to cancer and knowing friends (like Andy's partner, Christine) who have had cancer or lost family members to cancer, I have developed a deep-seated hatred for this disease.

I also like the fact that the guidelines for the event emphasize that this isn't a race, that participants can run or walk as they please, and that everyone is encouraged to go at his or her own pace.

If you're interested in helping to sponsor me (any amount appreciated, no matter how small), you can make an online donation through this Run For The Cure donation form where you can enter the runner's name (I'm registered under "DEBBIE OHI", no need to enter the city). Donations will used to support the advancement of breast cancer research, education, diagnosis and treatment. Donations are tax-deductible in Canada.

If you're interested in participating yourself, here's the CIBC Run For The Cure Web site. I found out today that some of my cousins are going to be there, too (Naomi & Rick & sons, Rob & Andrew).

Thank you.

Links/News:

The Two Towers new trailer is online!

...which inspired me to post a new Waiting For Frodo, of course. :-)

You're all invited to Allison's and Jodi's Virtual Birthday Party!

One year ago, Toronto had a lot of ladybugs.

Two years ago, Jeff visited me in Philadelphia.

Three years ago, I had password overload.

Four years ago, I was a snail killer.

Five years ago, I wanted cucumber sandwiches.

birthdays

Congratulations to Jodi and James, who have bought a house in Newmarket! They'll be moving in late November. It's Jodi's birthday on Tuesday and Allison's birthday on Thursday, by the way, and you're all invited to their virtual birthday party, which will run for exactly seven days.

Today's photos are from Reid's 40th birthday bash yesterday. The one at the top is of Reid in the midst of a Silly String attack. The party was great fun. Luisa did indeed provide pumpkin pie instead of cake for Reid. :-) Everyone brought potluck. What a great word that is, potluck.

Here's a scrumptious apple pie made from scratch by Laura Suzuki and Peter Cook, still warm from the oven when it was set on the table:





Andy, Luisa and Reid:





Luisa's brother Tony and me:





Harald (don't you think the red plastic thing on the windowsill looks like a little heart above his head?):





Michelle brought a copy of a fantasy anthology in which one of her short stories appeared (Familiars, edited by Denise Little). Here's an excerpt mentioning a mysterious character named Reid Ellis:





Caroline, in the network Quake game that ensued much later in the evening:





I crashed in the guestroom around 11:30 pm, and Jeff woke me around 2:30 a.m. to go home.

I'm going to check out Word on the Street later today. From my office window, I can see the tents set up along Queen Street for this annual literary festival.

Yes, I know this Blatherings entry is more incoherent than usual, but I haven't had a lot of sleep in the past few days and am feeling pretty brain-fried. I think a substantial Sunday afternoon nap might be in order...

Links/News:

One year ago, I decide to still go to California despite 9/11.

Three years ago I had meetings (though I didn't specify, these were re: sale of Inkspot) and saw Cabaret with my friend Cathy.

Four years ago, I went to the dentist and then went to buy chocolate.

Five years ago, I mourned the passing of Sigmund and Lettuce (two of my Sea Monkeys).

happy 40th, reid!

Happy 40th birthday, Reid!

Jeff and I went to Reid's pre-birthday LAN party last night. While Jeff, Reid, Frank, Andy, Iain, Ronnie and Michael bashed each other to bits (virtually speaking), Luisa and I hung out in the living room and talked. I crashed around 11 pm in the guest bedroom; Jeff woke me up around 2 a.m. when the games wound down and everyone was headed home.

We drove Andy home (who posts as "aiabx" in Blatherchat). I was pretty braindead after being woken after three hours sleep, and only vaguely remember the conversation in the car on the way to Andy's place. I think I asked him to tell me a story. Context: I've loved bedtime stories since I was a kid. I almost always ask Allison and Jodi for a bedtime story at night whenever we're rooming together at a convention, but they are almost always cruel and say no. So does Jeff.

Andy, however, was kind enough to give me the following story:


Once upon a time there was a fuzzy little bunny rabbit.
The bunny rabbit was happy. That is, until the lawnmower came.


I've known Reid and Luisa for 21 years, back at the University of Toronto. He and I went out for four years; he was my very first boyfriend. We went to the first OVFF together. Later on, he and Luisa started dating, and I ended up being Luisa's matron-of-honour (Jeff and I were married by that point) at their wedding.

Looking forward to the birthday party later today.

Luisa's making pumpkin pie. ;-) For an explanation, see the following excerpt from Blatherchat recently:

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LUISA:

About Pies. A conversation with Reid:

Luisa: "What kind of cake do you want for your birthday?"
Reid: "Pumpkin Pie"
Luisa: That's not a cake.
Reid: "But I like Pumpkin Pie"
Luisa: "I can't stick 40 candles in a pumpkin pie and divide it amongst 30 people."
Reid: "We could get TWO pumpkin pies."

(Good lord, why does this sound more like a conversation with my 7 year old??)

---

FRANK:

Better get 3 Pumpkin Pies, I'm coming too.

---

ANDY:

4.

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ME:

5!!! I love pumpkin pie! Whipped cream, too? ;-)

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Links/News:

One year ago, I raved about the Lord of the Rings trailer.

Three years ago, I talked about being a nerd in school.

Four years ago, I went to see Urban Legend with David Goulden.

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Today's Blatherpics:

	Reid, back in our university days. Not sure where this photo was taken. Perhaps at my dad's house in Bramalea, since that's my brother in the background.
	Ronnie (Reid's and Luisa's youngest son) attaches himself to Frank's leg.
	Ian, Andy and Reid at the birthday LAN party.

my big fat greek wedding

Allison, Jodi and I went out for sushi and then to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Wow, Janet, were you ever right in Blatherchat...the three of us really enjoyed this movie. I cried a lot, mainly from laughing pretty hard but also because bits in the movie that were so genuine and moving that I couldn't help it. I'm such a sap. Andrea Martin was brilliant. I want to go see this again, especially since Allison told us on the way out of the movie that it was filmed in Toronto.

I wasn't interested in seeing the movie until I saw Janet's comment in Blatherchat (she objected to my comment that there haven't been a lot of good summer movies). I hadn't gone to see it before because the trailer made it look a bit too slapstick and silly for my tastes, plus the basic plot premise didn't sound particularly interesting. I was way wrong.

It was refreshing to see a movie which relied on good writing and strong characters rather than special effects and big names. Also wonderfully refreshing to see a movie with a plot that assumes that people are basically good, and that doesn't leave the audience wondering what really happened at the end.

This is a straightforward, character-driven love story without the existential angst so common in most modern movies. I loved it.

And there wasn't a SINGLE EXPLOSION in the entire film. :-)





Hey, Chatelaine magazine is interested in one of my article ideas! I've been pitching them regularly but have had everything rejected with a form letter so far. This is the first time I've gotten a bite. Because they've never worked with me before, I have to write the article on spec (i.e. they may not buy the piece even if I write it), but that's understandable, and I'll pitch it elsewhere if it's rejected. Deadline: end of October. Wish me luck. I'd love to get something in Chatelaine...I enjoy the magazine (I'm a subscriber), and they pay well. :-)

Sent out two more article queries last week, sent in my completed article and some scanned photos to Country Connection magazine, and I'm continuing to revise my novel.

Jeff and I are continuing to look for houses. After passing up a few potentials and each time angsting over whether we've missed the opportunity for The Perfect House, we've resolved not to be in a hurry, to take our time until we find one that we're both happy with, in the right location AND the right price range.

Our real estate agent, Kathy Gordon, is really great. She's amazingly efficient, easygoing yet professional, friendly but not too chatty, has tons of experience and she never pressures us to buy. Many thanks to Parki for recommending her. If anyone else is interested in using her services, please let me know and I'll send you her contact info (and she's e-mail savvy! no phone tag, yay!).





Links/News:

One year ago Bryan Fullerton, Craig White, Dave Clement, Ruth Sanderson and Allison were over to visit.

Two years ago I watched a Powerpuffs episode in Philadelphia.

Three years ago, I reported what happened at Word on the Street.

Four years ago, Allison blathered.

Iris-scanning at Toronto airports? Source: Toronto Star

Yesterdayland has an interview with Lucy Liu

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Today's Blatherpics:

	Annie and my dad.
	Jeff in the hammock at the cottage during our last visit.
	Allison, Rand, Paul and Jodi at FilKONtario earlier this year.

poll: childhood cartoons

Grocery Gateway seems to be experiencing some rough spots these days. The delivery guy brought the wrong order yesterday, plus charged me the wrong amount. He was very nice about it, however, going back to his truck for the right order and promising me I'd be credited for the overcharge. I told him about the mutant bananas, and he said that yes, Grocery Gateway had a problem with the bananas, was trying to work it out.

Have to wonder if the customer service for Grocery Gateway is answering their e-mail anymore; I never got responses from the last messages I sent (one was for an article I was writing, one was about the bananas). I finally ended up calling about the bananas, and Customer Service gave me a credit but no explanation. I didn't really care about the money; I wanted to find out about the mutant bananas! Ah well.

Poll: Saturday morning/after school cartoons?

Which ones did you like the best as a kid? Which ones do you watch now? (as an adult, with your own children, whatever) My favourites included: Archie, Astro Boy, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Davey and Goliath, Dudley Do-Right, Mister Magoo, The Flintstones, H.R. Pufnstuf, Jetsons, Jonny Quest, Kukla, Fran and Ollie, The Perils of Penelope Pitstop, Pink Panther, Prince Planet, Popeye, Rocket Robin Hood, Scooby Doo, Spider-Man, Ultraman, Underdog, Banana Splits, Bugs Bunny, Captain Kangaroo, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Harlem Globetrotters, Josie and the Pussycats, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Shazam/Isis Hour, Zoom.

Dear lord. Did I really watch that much tv when I was a kid?!?

If you need reminding of what cartoons were around when you were a kid, check out Yesterdayland.

Answer in Blatherchat





Links/News:

One year ago, I watched the premiere of "Enterprise".

Two years ago, AmandaF and I manned the Inkspot booth at Word On The Street.

Three years ago, I manned the Inkspot booth by myself at Word on the Street. Allison, Jodi & Rand came by to visit.

Four years ago, Toronto had an earthquake and I didn't notice.

SF author Michael Crichton was robbed at gunpoint at home on Monday. Source: Star Tribune

A promotional trailer for "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" will debut on AOL, according to Reuters.

Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller as Starsky & Hutch? Source: Reuters.

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Today's Blatherpics:

	Annie blowing bubbles. Photo by my dad.
	Sara and Annie decorate Ruth's birthday cake, with my dad supervising.
	Ruth gives Annie a kiss after Annie and Sara present her with her cake.
	Characters from the cartoon, "The Weekenders". The two on the left are by Sara (8 years old), the two on the right are by Annie (5 years old).