girls are weird.

26 October 2004

enfin

At long last, wedding photos can now be seen here. Honeymoon photos and travel diary coming soon. Honest.

25 October 2004

so that's why they call london the big smoke

I am a smoke magnet. No matter where I go, no matter how many people are around me, the person closest to me will light up a cigarette. Take, for example, our evening in London yesterday. We went out for dinner to a bar/restaurant we'd been to before we saw The Fast Show Live, as we had remembered it as being a funky, quieter place with pretty decent food. They had shut the bottom level off for "staff training", which I assume must normally be the smoking section - I honestly don't remember anyone smoking on the ground floor level last time we were there. Almost every single table was full of smokers. We had smokers sitting on either side of us and as an added bonus, we were sitting next to the bar where standing smokers surrounded us. Surprisingly, it didn't bother me that much and we managed to eat despite the fact that we inhaled the equivalent to 1/2 pack of cigs each. So on we went to see Billy Connolly at the Hammersmith Appollo, where we had to push our way through not one, but two lobbies full of wall-to-wall smokers to get to our seats. After the show, we had to walk down several sets of stairs to get to the ground floor. It was absolutely packed and the crowd was moving extremely slowly down the stuffy, enclosed stairwell - what better situation than to light up a cigarette, right? Three people directly in front of us lit up at the same time, because apparently it was too much to wait ten minutes until they got outside. The final straw came as we stood in a queue waiting to pay for our parking, and both the guy in front of us and the guy behind us lit their cigs in unison. Does everyone in London smoke?!

Now don't get me wrong; I am not one of those militant ex-smokers who'll show you pictures of diseased lungs and throw coffin nails at you whenever you light up. I used to really enjoy smoking and there are some days when I would still sell my own mother for a cigarette. If you want to smoke, grand. I won't stop you. Just please, I'm begging you, try to be a courteous smoker. When I used to smoke, I never smoked in queues simply because it was rude to blow smoke over people who may not go for that sort of thing. I never smoked in cars, around children, when people were eating, or in people's houses who were non-smokers (even if they insisted that it was okay). See? Courteous. Smoking and blowing your smoke in the direction of a table of people eating, particularly if that table happens to contain a visibly pregnant woman, is not courteous. Ditto for smoking within 2 feet of someone who is not smoking themselves. Move away, or wait 5 minutes until you can smoke elsewhere. Trust me, going 5 minutes without a cig won't kill you. Going three days without a cig when you're visiting your parents, now that's another story. 5 minutes, sorry, I have no sympathy.

My biggest beef is with restaurants that don't have designated smoking sections (or divide the non-smoking from the smoking tables with a small potted plant). Pubs and bars, fair enough - I expect to come home smelling like an old ashtray - but when I go out to eat, I don't want to taste someone's Marlboroughs in between bites.

So please, if you smoke, be polite about it. If you do, I promise to return the favour by not talking about pregnancy symptoms and midwife visits in great detail while you're trying to eat your dinner. Okay? Okay.

Oh and Billy Connolly was a hoot - excellent show.

[posted by: Lisa Durbin] --

22 October 2004

what not to call your kid

Caution: contains naughty words if you read them out loud.

[posted by: Lisa Durbin] --

20 October 2004

i ate all the pie

Maybe not all of it, but there's not much left. On Sunday, I made a pumpkin pie and as of last night, there are two healthy (i.e. pregnant lady-sized) pieces left. I'm not ashamed and I'd do it again. I still have two tins of pumpkin pie filling left, so I'm going to try out PaulG's pumpkin cheesecake recipe soon. It's fruit combined with dairy; it's good for me.

Did anyone catch the new series of "Little Britain" last night? I think I hurt something laughing so much - that latex Bubbles suit is the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. The first time I watched this show, I didn't really "get it". It's quirky bordering on the completely absurd and it took me a few episodes before the giggles began erupting. Although a lot of British comedy is in a similar vein (think "Fast Show" and "League of Gentlemen") as is Canadian comedy ("Kids in the Hall"), for some reason "Little Britain" had to grow on me. Now we have a new set of catchphrases: "Yeah but no but yeah but", "I want that one", "I'm the only gay in the village", "Dust. Anyone? Dust.", and so on. Sorry, I've undoubtedly lost all readers outside of the UK by this point. I'll get back to discussing pie.

So, pie. I made a lovely steak and Guinness stew with dumplings on Saturday which got me thinking about steak puddings and chicken pies. Wrap anything in pastry or stick a puff pastry lid on it and I'll eat it. Except maybe brussell sprouts - they're satan's mini cabbages. As the weather continues to be grey and wet, the comfort food cooking continues. Sausages and mash, roast chicken dinners complete with Yorkshire puds and roast potatoes, all types of pastas, starch starch and starch with a side of starch. Does anyone have a non-starchy comfort food?

[posted by: Lisa Durbin] --

15 October 2004

missing the great pumpkin

On Canadian Thanksgiving Monday, I was in the US of A looking at sea lions and buying large amounts of chocolate. As you do. I was a bit disappointed to be away this Thanksgiving, as last year I had my very first Big Turkey Dinner with Paul's family. I was kind of hoping to start a new tradition (I like to call it "Inflict Weird North American Food Items On English People") and have an annual excuse to consume pumpkin pie. Although there were many things Autumnal in the States, I couldn't bring myself to try the pumpkin scones at Starbuck's nor the pumpkin frappucino. I think I'll make a non-Thanksgiving pumpkin pie this weekend, however unorthodox that may seem. I'm crazy like that.

This also brings me to the topic of Halloween. I used to love trick or treating, and it wasn't all about the candy. Running around the streets after dark in costume with my friends was exhilarating. Part of the fun was the build up to the 31st - carving the pumpkin with my Dad (and my Mom roasting the seeds afterwards) and deciding what to dress up as. My Mom used to make my costumes when I was younger; she's quite the seamstress. I can remember being a princess (complete with a tin foil wand and tiara), a leopard, Little Red Riding Hood, Raggedy Ann (my Mom very ingeniously came up with the idea of gluing bright orange yarn to a shower cap to create a wooly wig), a pilgrim (I won McDonald's gift certificates at school in a best costume competition), and a 50's teenybopper. In later years, I was a punk rocker (before the days I started bleaching my hair and got my nose pierced), Magenta from "Rocky Horror Picture Show", and Deanna Troi from "Star Trek: Next Generation" (what can I say, I had the hair for it). I haven't gone to many Halloween bashes in my adult life, so the only costume I can remember from recent years is the fallen angel one from a couple of years ago. Last year I carved a pumpkin and will probably do another this year.

So it's probably going to be a pumpkiny weekend, if I can manage to find some in this part of the world (last year's selection was rather dire). We might be the only people in the neighbourhood with a lit pumpkin in the window and we might only get 4 or 5 trick or treaters again this year, and I'm probably only one of three people in this region who will even go near a pumpkin pie, but it does keep the spirit of a North American autumn alive somewhat.

I'll still pass on the pumpkin scones, though.

[posted by: Lisa Durbin] --

13 October 2004

who the what now?

What day is it? What time zone am I in? What meal should I be eating right now? Do I have any clean clothes?

Hi. We're back. :)

A detailed trip diary will be posted soon along with the many pics I took, but in the meantime, a quick summary. Our flight over was really good - no turbulence and we managed to snag bulkhead seats. After a night in San Francisco (near the airport, so no sightseeing managed that evening), we flew down to San Diego and spent a lovely few days relaxing in La Jolla and shopping at various outlet malls. Then I got a cold. Boo hiss. Oh and the city decided to start tearing up the road outside out hotel room at 8pm for the duration of the night. Our room was vibrating, and not in a scintillating way; we had to move hotels for the duration of our stay. We flew back to SF, and United managed to lose my suitcase. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal except it contained our scan pictures and DVD, and my work permit to get me back into the UK - and they had no clue where it went. Stressed and very, very unhappy. Went to pick up the rental car, we had to switch it for some stupid reason, and in the fatigue and haste, left Paul's video camera in the trunk (we did get it back that evening). Arrived at the hotel to discover that they overbooked and didn't have a room for us. Sent us down the road to another hotel (a bit of a fleabag called the Good Nite Inn), where we got no sleep but had a yummy IHOP breakfast the following morning. Drove to Jenner, and settled into our rustic but comfy cottage/cabin room. Spent a very nice couple of days touring the coast and seal spotting. Unfortunately, most places are shut off season so we didn't get to try the River's End restaurant - but discovered two excellent restaurants in nearby Duncans Mills [sic]. The suitcase was finally delivered after much arguing from Paul (United claimed they couldn't deliver to Jenner and expected me to go another night without my suitcase). Drove to Santa Rosa and visited the Snoopy museum, which was really good fun. Arrived in Napa and restocked on some favourites and ate too much, enjoyed the sunshine and beautiful scenery in the Napa Valley. More shopping at Vacaville. Drove down to San Francisco to our very nice hotel, and had to cross a picket line to get inside (the hotel workers had gone on strike that week). Said picketers woke us up at 1.30 am with chanting and again at 6am, this time with a megaphone and shouting "WAKE UP! WAKE UP!". Not at all amused, but managed to get moved up to the 16th floor where it was far quieter. Visited Sausalito (very charming and pretty), revisited Sushi Rika (YUM), saw several airshows (it was fleet week), watched the sealions again, went to the Land of Chocolate (Ghiradelli Square), visited the California Academy of Science and aquarium (and found Nemo), wandered through the Metreon Center, and tried to find somewhere to eat on a Sunday night in the finance district. Flight home was slightly turbulent but managed to get bumped up after some complaining. Extremely jet lagged today and would very much like to eat something small and light for the next month or so. Particularly something that doesn't come slathered with mayonnaise or with fries.

Discoveries this trip: Americans no longer understand my accent (I had to repeat myself to everyone we spoke to), I don't think they make cinnamon TicTacs anymore, a flashing red light means you can proceed but must yield to oncoming traffic, being fat is not your fault and there are at least three different pills you can buy through TV ads to help you lose weight, John McEnroe and Ellen Degeneres have talk shows, and "Shaun of the Dead" has just arrived in cinemas and has been getting good reviews (I never thought that one would make it across the pond).

The baby blog has been updated with scan pics, and I will update the travel pages with honeymoon pics and stories at some point soon. So very tired. Must finish laundry now. Ungh.

[posted by: Lisa Durbin] --

02 October 2004

speedy gonzales

Just a very quick update from sunny La Jolla:
-I have a cold, dammit.
-did lots and lots and lots and lots of shopping. Lots.
-have eaten way too much food, but haven't been to IHOP for breakfast yet.
-have purchased way too much junk food to bring back home with us (Melanie, we found Peanut Butter M&Ms for you!).
-and last but certainly not least...it's a boy! The scan was amazing (we can bore you with the DVD/photos when we get back) and we learned that we are going to have a little boy in February. Whee!

Flying back to San Francisco tomorrow and starting our tour of Jenner/Russian River/Napa Valley/SF. Might update again if we can but otherwise, we'll see you when we get back on the 12th. Adios amigos!

[posted by: Lisa Durbin] --