This weekend I watched some free student made docs at Ryerson University. I thought the block that I saw were well made and quite nice production value-wise.

My favourite of the lot was one called Edible Indian, which focused on three chef’s response to the question, ‘What’s your favourite meal?”

One of the chef’s was of the Cree nation and spoke of his people’s connection to the land and the animals and the respect with which they interact with both. But it was all leading up to a tradition they have of having memorial meals - large potluck type deals where people bring dishes that their dearly departed loved. These meals are ways to share something tangible and something intangible - the food and the memories and a vehicle to stay connected to family and friends who have said goodbye to the land of the living.

When I take the big dirt nap I’d like you all to consume too many tacos and a cool class of tart lemonade.

What meal would you want consumed in memoriam of yourself?

As I am wont to do on a Sunday morning, as I make and eat breakfast. I listen to Sook-Yin Lee on DNTO. This morning I heard tales of kindness given and received and two incidents popped immediately to mind.

1) My eldest brother took me to see Big at the local Cineplex. I wanted to see it so badly! It was 1988, I was 7 and he was 12 - I give you the ages so you can see that a boy at the cusp of teenagedom really wouldn’t be keen on an outing with a little kid (both in stature and age) - yet, he did. We cut through the community college and he bought me Ringolos as a snack to maw on for the 20 minute trek (I’m pretty sure I put them on my fingers and pretended they were rings - it’s what those things were made for!). To this day it’s one of my fondest memories of us spending time together. He didn’t have to take me, I’m sure he would have rather been on his skateboard terrorizing the neighbours or playing some videogame but he and I spent that afternoon together and that, to me, is an act of kindness. 

2) The year is 2010 and it is a sweltering day in June and I’m kitted out in a fashionable ensemble for my commencement from my Journalism program.

I was just happy to see my classmates and to walk across that stage to the whoops and hollers of those that became near and dear. But the act of kindness came in the package of my (other) brother who lives on the East coast. He flew 2 hours to see me receive that diploma, have some Indian food to celebrate and then promptly hop on a flight back home. He totally didn’t have to come, it wasn’t the biggest deal to me to make it a thing but he came, he clapped and he made me feel like I accomplished something worthwhile. Kindness. 

Listening to that podcast made it seem like a huge task to think of incidents of kindness received but I found it to be the opposite - so easy! - and the list could have run on but I’m not looking to bore you - but it reminded me that the smallest acts can have grand scale meaning to someone so keep on surprising people with those unsolicited cups of coffee, or pick them up unexpectedly, or maybe give them a hug when you know they need one but are too stoic to ask. 

Kindness is a pretty great thing. 

The thing about life is that even through the predictability of it there is a certain lawlessness. I think from one day to the next that I know just what I’m in store for and then … BAM! Curve ball to the side of the head. Ow, that hurts, yes, but it’s also quite bracing. It’s nice to shake things up from time to time. Get’s you out of the rut and when you think all’s well you learn that maybe that’s not the case BUT that can be just what you need to get some traction and momentum so huzzah to the banana peels on the floor that make you slip and get a slimy film of banana on your jeans. Let’s walk it off and get those jeans washed and then see what we can do. 

Get at it. 

Last night I had the opportunity to be amongst my people: The Followers of the Whedonverse. 

A Buffy the Vampire Slayer trivia night was hosted at The Gladstone Hotel and the place was packed with nerds and cosplay aficionados. One lady donned her best Joyce Summers garb and I knew I was where I should be. 

My nerves were ratcheted to the nth degree knowing how rabid the Buffyverse fans are. Would I keep my street cred? Did I really know Buffy as well as I thought? My mettle would be tested with a partner I just met - but after the first question was spoken and we communicated with shorthand and head nods I knew that we had more than a fighting chance.  I knew that all those hours of steadfast loyalty to watching Buffy in real-time and then re-watching on VHS (because I taped it on those Tuesday nights so I could edit out the commercials) were worth it. And even now I revisit my DVD collection and nearly weep at the minute scratches that make me furiously Google Buzzfeed hacks. But, clearly, I digress. 

The first round was a breeze up until question 11 - we were both stumped and rather irritated with ourselves for letting that piece of information elude us. But we soldiered on and earned 14/15 from our lovely neighbours who were also relegated to stand at the bar due to overcrowding. 

After some hilarious clips, banter, a brewski and general geekery the game was back on! 

This time we got tripped up on the fourth question - it was the kind of question where the answer was on the tip of the tongue but refused to be spoken. Grr Argh! 

And then we proceeded to cockily write down the rest of our answers before the questions were even completed. 

Another round of swapping quiz sheets with our neighbours and a sweet 28/30 with a wow and a smiley face, I hoped we would make it to at least a third place finish and winnings of sour keys from the Faith-dressed Quiz Master - but alas there were folks who got a perfect score (I’m not saying they cheated but …, and I’m not saying I’m being a sore loser but …) and a couple of teams missed just one question so we didn’t place. I was a little more than annoyed and usually I’m not incredibly competitive but I was sassy as hell and yelling back with the roomful of die-hards and then we all filtered into the night hoping to find a vamp to stake with Mr. Pointy to release the post quiz slayage tensions. 

Here are the missed questions so you can all shame me by getting them quickly.

a) What was the full name of the vampire Buffy had to defeat when she was forced to take the rite of passage test minus her preternatural abilities in the season three episode ‘Helpless’?

b) What was the name of the spell Willow performed to re-ensoul Angelus? 

And that to me it was it feels like to belong. Rabid fandom. Fangirling. Flailing. Mixed emotions. And finally euphoria. 

P.S. Besides a full out trouncing of the competition the only thing that could have made the night any better would be some mention of my favourite character Anya (Christina Emanuella Jenkins), AKA Anyanka, AKA Aud. 

Hello fine feathered friends and foes, 

It’s just the very beginning of Thursday but I found some photos to share for this ‘Throwback Thursday’ thing that people are doing. The first few are of a even more miniature me and the last one is an update to a post from February.

You know what? I’m not even going to wait to get to the pictures, I’m spoiling the news right here and now! We found out that the lil baby creature my sister-in-law is incubating will be a girl! So below you’ll see some photos of me in pink - something you shan’t see anytime in the present nor the future, hopefully the female being coming in August will enjoy her pink ensembles more than I ever did.

Yep, that’s drool. I guess I’m hoping to ruin that onesie. 

And another one of me: 

I’ve aptly named the above pic “Sad in pink argyle.”

And finally the unborn one: 

Happy Thursday everyone!

My thoughts on pets can best be summed up with this quote: 

“And I have no affinity for animals. I don’t hate animals and I would never hurt an animal; I just don’t actively care about them.” - Tina Fey in Bossypants.

But I happend upon this amusing story in The Atlantic. It reminded me both of the Crazy Cat People I know as well as this lovely and heart warming story of a cat coming back home after an extended time away. I’m a fan of storytelling and I hope I do this tale justice. 

My niece (at age 6) and sister-in-law begged and pleaded with my brother for a little feline companion and henceforth the legacy of Misty the Anti-social Cat has become legendary family-wide. 

This cat has been through a lot - dressed up as a baby and pushed around in a stroller by a Timbit-sized girl and provoked by all and sundry - so I guess her hissing isn’t totally unwarranted. *Shrug* 

She’s 13 now but when she was 9 she was a little less pudgy and would escape the confines of the house and sit on the porch and watch my brother each morning as he readied himself for work, then she would steal away to the comforts of her domain. One September morning in ‘09 she didn’t make it back indoors and a poster campaign (I tried so hard to locate a copy of this adorable poster to no avail - but this was drawn just a month after her disappearance

look at that sad face!) and a heartbreaking decision to never pass by a cat traffic fatality lead to the belief that she may have died or been taken in by some family that wasn’t going to return her.

Six months, and many tears shed by this little girl and her mom, later an encounter with a neighbour teased with the promise of a surprise lead to the reunion of Misty and her duo of caregivers. As everyone trundled into the neighbour’s home their own little darling came around the corner cradling a decidedly familiar squirming critter.

The poor tabby was scrawny but still feisty and managed to keep her collar on, proving she was the right cat. Had she thought ahead she could have prepared for her journey better with this.

So the cat came back - just not the very next day.

I’ll admit it, I used to deride vegetarians - like, a lot. I’ve changed my tune - family health issues and a desire to break away from the mundane has sent me on a journey to discover the hidden delights of veggies, lentils, beans and grains. And what money savers!

Generally veggie dishes take less time to cook and can still impart a whole lot of flavour. 

Since rediscovering the glories that the kitchen can produce I have rustled up soups, curries, and (gasp!) salads (among others) - but can we just talk about salads for a moment? I really used to have a hate-on for those things. The mounds of iceberg lettuce drenched in the requsite Italian dressing was most unappealing, but now! Wow, making my own vinargrette’s and adding in different textures, and how have I only now just discovered the balance I enjoy in my meals can be applied to what I used to regard as a side only - sweet, salty, crunchy, spicy, and sour?!

Also, I now view dietary restrictions that some folks have as a challenge rather than a hinderance. I like to take to the internets to find inspiration and then tailor my offers to said persons palette preferences. Wunderbar!

While I haven’t made the switch completely I will say that at least 70% of the meals I make are vegetarian and my protein count has increased to almost medically acceptable levels - without the aid of any iron pills. Food for thought - groan inducing, I know. 

So I raise my favourite sandwich (avocado, tomato, sharp cheddar, and sriracha) in cheers to the Vegetarians! 

Honestly I don’t know when I became so sappy. My heart is a melty chocolate these days. 

My amazing niece is graduating college at the end of this term and I can’t believe where the time went. I remember when she was born - I was all of twelve and unsure how a baby would fit into my life. Up until that point I don’t think I had ever held a baby let alone let one into my heart. 

Fast forward past the spit-up and the pink eye to the adorable moment where she begged me to play with her when I denied her because I was over colouring and playing hide and seek - those pleading eyes and beseeching tones cemented that this kid was forever someone I would hold dear, protect, and be there for. 

She’s a talented artist with a hand in sketching, painting, mixed media, and writing. Her future is so bright, with so many avenues for her to explore that I can’t wait to see where her journey takes her. 

If it’s any indication that her brother, my rambunctious nephew, is drawn to the hand-me-down markers and other art materials we may have another creative one on our hands. 

This third peanut that’s currently incubating inside my sister-in-law is sure to have some affinity to the arts as well as he or she is surrounded with the fruits of someone’s imagination. 

I bid my, very similarly facial featured, niece a road filled with many forks so she can have limitless opportunities and never be bereft of a new adventure.