Vogue Cover for Winona

Ten days away and our mailbox was jammed full of bills and magazines. Bills don't thrill me, but mags do. Words cannot describe how elated I was to see Winona Ryder on the cover of the August issue of Vogue. Love, love, love Winona! I haven't read the new issue yet as I'm still reading the July issue (which, by the way, contains a lovely article on the late Isabella Blow) and I'm a stickler about reading things in proper order. I'm hoping to get to it this weekend. Back in the 90s I remember getting my hair chopped off into a pixie cut just like Winona did. Sure, I looked cute but I just couldn't pull-it-off like she did. The Vogue cover looks so compelling -- much more than the July issue. Very excited!!!

I missed it. I missed the big explosion in Dallas. They were cleaning it up by the time I heard about it. Why? Well, post-Canada visit I decided to watch less television, turn-off the radio and enjoy the quietness. No longer would I let mindless tv shows rot my brain. Plus, television makes it too easy for me to procrastinate regarding my domestic chores. So, yesterday morning when I noticed the dark smoke billowing over the Dallas skyline during my morning walk (my effort to get into shape) I assumed it was merely a big fire somewhere and thought nothing of it. It wasn't until late afternoon when I happened to turn on the radio that I heard about certain freeways (as highways are called in the US) being closed. So, I'm reconsidering my stance on television even if it means I must hear about Lindsay Lohan's DUI and Britney Spears' bizarre actions.

Knocked out by a Timbit?

I survived nine days without internet access. In the beginning it was difficult, but it's surprising how life carries on without logging on to check email, or see what's new on Perez Hilton. Had a lovely week with my parents. The weather was brilliant! Of course, in the Ottawa Valley area 80F is considered hot...so I was really enjoying what would be considered spring weather in Dallas. I taught my niece (8) how to make water balloons, but my nephew (10) taught me the secret to making them explode when they hit someone. He also showed me how to throw a fast ball and a 'change-up' in baseball -- I'm still not sure what that is. My niece told me that she is no longer a sweet girl. She is now evil. How quickly they grow.

After enjoying the slow-paced life in Shawville it was time to hit the highway to Toronto. We went through Renfrew and took Hwy41 and then Hwy7 at Kaladar. Then we turned onto a highway (can't remember the number) that goes through Tweed. Luckily there was a Tim Hortons in Tweed. After a quick pit-stop we were on our way with coffee and timbits. As we were making our way to the 401 I was devouring the honey-dip timbits (my fave) when out popped the crown on my back molar!!!! Aghhhhhhh!!! We were in the middle of nowhere! Aghhhhh! Luckily we had a bottle of water, so I went into worst-case-scenario-survival-mode as I quickly cleaned off the crown, 'rinsed' my mouth, and promptly plopped the crown back in place. We didn't have time to search for a dentist so I thought the safest place for it would be where it usually was: in my mouth. Let's just say that eating was a tad tricky. To add to that, we encountered a nasty traffic jam on the 401 going through Toronto. It was madness. Then our flight was delayed an hour, but luckily the pilot was able to 'make-up' the time we lost by getting us to DFW on schedule. Just how do pilots do this? Is there a special route for planes that have been delayed? Is there a secret short cut above the clouds? So why can't they be faster all the time?

Chilling in TO

Driving in downtown Toronto is nuts...absolutely nuts. They really should not allow street parking on busy streets. The insanity of Queen Street!!!

It was great to spend the afternoon with GL and her lovely baby boy. She made me a yummy dinner of barbecued pork chops with sauteed swiss chard. I will definitely try cooking the swiss chard at home. Hubby and I had lunch with one of his former coworkers...just wish I could remember the name of the restaurant. Think it was called Torino...funky Italian eatery on Queen Street West.

At the moment I'm chilling on the 34th floor of the Sheraton while Hubby is drinking himself silly at some bar. Hope he's not hungover and cranky tomorrow as we must drive 4hrs to Pembroke.

Almost packed...really. Just hoping and praying that our flight is not delayed tonight as there is a huge thunderstorm heading this way...please let there be no funnel clouds!!

I'm trying to motivate myself to start packing. I've got the suitcase out...I will start packing...soon. But, first let me update my blog...and send instant messages to my hubby.

Packing=Procrastination

In two days hubby and I will be flying home to Canada. Am I excited? Yes...can't wait. Have I started packing? No. I hate packing. The only thing I hate more than packing a suitcase is unpacking one.

I certainly intend to pack -- can't leave home without a well-packed suitcase. Two days ago I started a list of what-to-pack, not only for myself but for hubby as well. You can't get better intentions than a to-do-list. I've started thinking about clothes and what should be laundered. But, I just can't bring myself to get the suitcase out and make piles of clothes. And so I will procrastinate...I will wait until a couple of hours before we must leave for DFW and I will throw items into the suitcase with no rhyme or reason.

Last month North Texas received more rain than it did for all of 2006. In fact, there were ten consecutive days in which it rained -- which hasn't happened since 1932. I don't know if this is climate change or a freak of nature, but I am officially sick of it.

Well, actually I am sick from it. All this rain has raised the fungus/mold count in this area, and so my nasal passages are clogged and I'm feeling miserable. I wish the rain and dark clouds would vanish until November. Last summer we had one day of rain and I could breathe easily. Bring back the hot, dry Texas summers.

I wonder if there is an anti-rain dance...