Monday AMuse

"Steampunk is a way to combine the past and the future in an aesthetically pleasing yet still punkish way... that combine the scientific romanticism of the Victorians with our real present and imagined future." The Steampunk Home

the monitor on this Victorian all in one computer is designed as a stage
there is step by step instructions on how this was 'built' here

the arms of this monitor are from gas lamps
again, full instructions for this creation can be found here

even a flashdrive was rehoused...

makes your plastic model look kinda cheap, doesn't it

my eyes have seen...

So, where have I been?

Nowhere and everywhere.

I have finally gotten my new progressive lens glasses and believe you me, they take some getting used to. I took them to the movies with me while I gazed at George Clooney staring at goats and dispensing advice of air travel. I took them off and replaced them with cool 3D glasses for A Christmas Carol and Avatar. I have been practising with them by watching tv and reading at the same time. Reading a new Grisham and the first Steig Larsson. I can't put either one down just yet. Watching marathons where I went to The Office in Pennsylvania and Florida with The Golden Girls. Then I discovered a way to watch almost anything from television on the internet (ninjavideo) so I caught up with the dark side of Florida with Dexter and balanced it out with a bit of Glee. There was another charming bit of Dickens with a rather young Derek Jacobi in Little Dorrit for eight straight hours. Then some more time travel with Mad Men and finally with the End of the Time Lord himself with Dr Who.

At least my eyes muscles got some exercise.

I am exhausted.

Even though it is still rather cold here, it has warmed up enough for me to venture out for a coffee. Where there is a fireplace, to finish my book. Where I may practice writing while wearing my new glasses.

Happy New Year, Dear Friends

To All, I Wish a Year Full

of Health, Happiness and Humour

an end is nigh

This week between Christmas and New Year's is a kind of dead zone. A time of cleaning up around the house and repeats on the radio and television. And a time of the Year End Reviews.

I have a love-hate relationship with the Year End Reviews. And now we have the End of the Decade Reviews to contend with. (I know it isn't really the end of the decade, but...)

The end of the Naughts.

I used to love reading these lists. I thought of them as a gentle reminder of things that had happened in the past year. I think I even saved some of them and kept them tucked into the last pages of my journal for the respective year. Now, somehow, I think of them as brain twisters. Was that this year? I thought he died years ago? You actually found that incident memorable?

When I was younger, it was so much easier to place certain events or songs. I remembered them according to what grade I was in. Once that reference point was gone things got a little murky. I would reference events according to where I was living. Not necessarily the year, though. I still have trouble remembering exactly which year I lived in High Park, or moved to that small town in Central Ontario. When I figure it out, I am suddenly more aware of how much time has passed and am shocked. Or perversely, was it only five years ago that that happened? have I really only been blogging for a year and a half?

My short term memory is confused. And reading these lists only confirms my suspicions.

I am getting older.

On another note, I am glad to start the new decade so we can stop saying - deep breath - two thousand and nine, and swiftly move on to saying twenty ten.

how to stretch your vacation time in an unpleasant way

By December 24th my final flight arrangements for a short trip to New York City were finalized.

Some stupid person didn't want the (by now quicker and less stressful) extra travel time to Buffalo, so opted for a Toronto Pearson departure. Hours of waiting only to have your flight cancelled due to... hours of waiting.

Hopefully this insanity will be over, or seriously diminished, in the next 10 days.

Seriously.

photo from Globe and Mail

Monday AMuse

SundayStills - odds and ends

It was mild on Christmas Day, the temperatures around 6C or 42F and still no snow. (odd for an Ontario winter) But it was not particularly quiet. The tree branches were squeaking as they rubbed against each other in the wind, the geese were honking while flying frantically overhead as they tried to scream at one another

over the noise of the waves crashing.

I went for a walk along the waterfront to capture the scene. Along the way I met a few other brave foolhardy souls, one couple who saw the waves from the Skyway and had to get off the highway to take photos. I took one of them standing in front of the breakwall and tried not to laugh as they ran from the spray. We were all suitably impressed. We all got wet. The above photo is an untouched version, but I thought it looked too grey, so I played around with the settings to highlight the waves

Then I came home and dried off, put on my new flannel jammies and had some spiked egg nog. And watched March of the Penguins, and was pleased with my lot in life. At the time, I thought: what an appropriately odd ending for the day.

SundayStills had no particular theme this week (or so I read it!) so check out what everyone else came up with and be surprised.

Snow may be in your forecast for Christmas,
but here it will be rain and freezing rain, then more rain.

Perfect time for tea and shortbread.

Have a safe and happy Christmas, everyone, wherever and however you spend it!

Monday AMuse

SundayStills - holiday lights and decorations

My city puts on an animated festival of lights every year.

So come sit by the fire a spell and keep warm.

and doesn't every town have one of these?

Someone who goes a little overboard on their lights?

This house gets scores of people wandering by to have a look and to enthrall. Even their small back yard is filled with inflatables and lighted trees. Fortunately, there is a conveniently located school directly across the street. (handy for parking, too!)

Now, back inside, for some cozy seasonal socks.

this is one of the 100 doors decorated for Christmas at the Botanical Gardens.

As for me, I am a simple decorator.

Check out more SundayStills photography

and you can see more of my holiday lights and decorations on Sightlines (also scroll down to here and here for last years with snow)