spring, woohoo!

(Update: There is a good chance that the ice-out article might run in Saturday's issue of The Toronto Star.)

Echoing what Becca Allen said in a recent LJ post: I love spring!

Ok, so autumn is still my favourite season. But spring is SO appealing after what seems like an eternally long Toronto winter. I swear, I was about ready to strangle myself with my own mitten strings. Now that better weather has arrived, I've been doing a lot more power walking and regular walking outside, plan to start running again now that my cold is finally gone. Jeff and I opted to walk home from the Home Show last weekend instead of driving or taking the TTC; it took us about an hour and a half. Felt great, and the walk by the lake was pretty; we also checked out the Toronto Music Garden.

Love this time of year, when it feels like the city is waking up: stretching its winter-tired muscles, shaking off the gray slush, taking a deep breath of fresh air. The joggers and rollerbladers are out on the Martin Goodman Trail; there's an extra spring to everyone's step, and smiles come more easily. Yay for spring!

With my dad-in-law at ice-out several years ago. Note the floating ice still on the lake!

It's been over three months since Jeff and I gave up cable tv. I miss it less and less as time goes on, and we're now considering continuing our tv-lessness when we move into our new house. We may eventually switch back, but for now it's a good experiment. We still watch some tv shows, but only after an entire season has come out on DVD; we may miss out on the excitement of first airings, but this way we have more flexibility over when we watch and how we watch.

I'm filling up tv time with other stuff instead, like reading and walking outside and writing studying German and drawing as well as playing and writing music. There always seems to be so many interesting things to do and too little time. Even if/when we do switch back to cable, this whole experience has taught me a lot about time management and being more active instead of passive; I'll be much more aware of when I switch on the television.

I think that sometimes it was too easy to use it as a mental pacifier ("I'm too tired to do anything else; I'd rather watch this show I don't actually enjoy because I can't be bothered to do anything else..."). I think watching too much TV encourages us to get used to being entertained while we just passively sit there, rather than going out seeking or creating our own entertainment. Down with passivity, I say! Life is too short.

Jeff on ice.

Had a fun whistle lesson last night, and spent part of it transcribing "Paige's Polka," a new tune that Dave Clement taught me at FilKONtario, which he learned from Al Thomson. Karen quite likes it and has encouraged me to teach it to the Tranzac session people, so I think I will! I would get a huge kick out hearing the tune start to be played in Toronto. Karen's going to photocopy the transcription; when she does, I'll post it to Flickr so others can learn it as well.

A reporter from the Toronto Star e-mailed yesterday to ask if he could interview Jeff and me about our ice-out ritual; I directed him to Jeff since he's the Ice-Out King, but also pointed him to my Blathering on the topic. When/if the article appears, I'll let you know.

Speaking of fame, Ruth got interviewed by YTV! I'll post details about airing schedule when I know them. Ruth's new picture book, "Me and My Sister" was favourably reviewed by the Globe & Mail recently, and she was interviewed by the CBC when she was doing her book tour in Alberta a couple weeks back. My sister is so cool.



I'm getting much more writing done lately than usual, for several reasons:

(1) We're not househunting or packing or unpacking or moving. Yet.

(2) My tendinitis is much improved.

(3) I'm spending more time offline. I started doing this because of the noisy construction upstairs but y'know, it's good for my productivity. I'm doing my writing during non-meals hours in a nearby hotel lounge with tables and power outlets. I order an herbal tea, pay for it right away, and then the staff leave me alone. My noise reduction headphones block out the irritating muzak. So...I may be behind on LJ and general e-mail, but I'm getting a lot of writing done. Sending out more queries, too.



Eek, apologies for the longish and rather rambling Blather. This will likely be my last post until next week, since I'll either be at Eeriecon or at the cottage for ice-out on the weekend; apparently the ice on Canoe Lake is turning black, which is one of the early signs. Only a week left until Walter and I go see the Lord of the Rings One-Man Show! And only 37 days until we get possession of our house. Turns out I miscalculated before, so have adjusted the countdown...I'm telling you because I KNOW you care.

Have a great weekend, everyone. :-)

p.s. The two sketches on the third page of my handwritten Blathering yesterday were indeed of John Hall and Becca Allen. I was honestly shocked that any of you recognized them. BUT it's a start, and I hope to gradually improve in my reference photo drawings.

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