in the mall in Seattle- not all feet walk the same path.

in the mall in Seattle- not all feet walk the same path., originally uploaded by jill y.

No these are not my feet but they are real tattoos. Hold onto your hats..I'm having one done on Saturday.

favorite posts from the year

January- every January 19- I remember that I have loved Janis Joplin since I saw Pearl at a garage sale when I was 13.
favorite photo- "Fangs"

February- I love crafts. I have an entire cupboard in my kitchen devoted to it.
favorite photo- "Come inside for a Cuppa".

March- My first day in Prague. I was thrilled.
favorite photo- "How many hands have opened this door?"

April The bus trip from Prague almost ended up in Romania.
so many favorite photos- but "The Life in Paris" is the one I picked.

May- I started to ride my bike to work.
favorite photo- "Fat-fatter-fattest" cherry blossoms in May.

June- an ode to my grandmother that followed a week long tribute to my mom for her birthday.
favorite photo- "Prairie Air".

July- Michael and I have a wee anniversary.
favorite photo- "children of the corn".

August- my teeth.
favorite photo- "a balancing act".

September- a reminder to dance- watch the video.
favorite photo- "Cream"- it's been posted before but it's a top favorite.

October- I had that nasty lump removed.
favorite photo- "In the Distance"- from a trip home to Alberta.

NovemberMy ABC's.
favorite photo- "Look Down"- my favorite people photograph ever.

December- my morning regime. Today Michael bought me a powerful new blender to make these even better in the new year.
favorite photo- "Bundled".

get in the car and go

keep it simple, originally uploaded by jill y.

I'm off to Seattle today with the fella and his friend. The home of my favorite Pike Place Market and the original Starbucks.

We're going for no other reason but "why not".

But there will be laughs and many photographs too.

In the meantime- check out this excellent crafter's blog on crafting green.

it's over

a clever little stop motion video..watch..

Merry Christmas!

Hi!, originally uploaded by jill y.

top 5 things to do over the Christmas Holiday

1. Vacuum under the bed and do away with the year's worth of spider's nests and dust bunnies.

2. Organize the craft cupboard for a fun filled crafty new year and to remind myself how many projects still await me.

3. Start those crocheted bunny slippers you bought the wool for with last year's Christmas money.

4. Mail the Christmas present and card I didn't get around to mailing.

5. Write this new Year's Resolutions down somewhere so I don't forget.

all I want for Christmas...

...is to stop being sick.

How can I still be ill? I took all my antibiotics even though they made me itchy because I'm allergic to penicillin. I have dutifully gone to bed at 8:30 and drank many many cups of Neo-Citran and had many many Fisherman Friend's over to chat. I have rubbed Vick's Vapor Rub on my throat and taken many hot baths with cyprus and spruce essential oil. So why do I still sound like Kathleen Turner. In any case, I might want to keep it around longer according to this article...

santa- alone on a bench, originally uploaded by jill y.

rudolph

IMGP7068.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

three wise kings

My mother sent me something for Christmas.

The tag said to not open it until the 25th. Naturally, I opened it right away. She gave me:

An awesome silicone steamer. (Very healthy.)
An Exercise Ball workout DVD. (Again, very healthy.)

And then she gave me the "White Trash Cooking" cookbook. It's like she fell off the healthy wagon. Flipping through this cookbook- there are numerous recipes that call for an ingredient call 'Oleo'. I'm scared to Google it because I think it's either left over grease from chitin's or some sort of store brand Crisco.

Speaking of chitin's, here are some of the recipes that really stand out:

pg 46- fried or boiled rabbit or squirrel (I am not kidding)
pg 45- Mama Leila's Hand-Me-Down Oven Baked Possum
pg 24- Mary Beth Boney's Collard Greens
pg 57- Cooter Pie (The Hunter's Delight)
pg 94- Russian Communist Tea Cakes

I'll have to post a few of those in all their glory for all you out there to enjoy.

Thanks Mom. I actually do kind of like the cookbook and heaven forbid I try one of the recipes, I'll let you know.

20 years?!

My parents split up when I was about 13 years old.

No big deal. Hardly anybody I know does not have divorced parents. That's kind of sad being the norm, really.

Anyways- that was the previous generation.

My mom started dating some guy named Gordon who she later married. I'm pretty sure I hated him for the first few years. Just because I could focus my teenage angst and unresolved feelings of my parental unit split up on SOMEONE, he was the lucky target.

I wore black to their wedding.

There was one day on my grandmother's farm and I took a photo of them and my mom looked so happy and I realized and saw that Gordon made my mom so happy. I started to see that their marriage was something that was good and it was unfair to feel like it was somehow wrong or a venue for my pent up anger. Things shifted that day when I looked at them in their hand knit sweaters standing on the walkway that led up the farmhouse door, the snow resting on the willow leaves behind them.

I relaxed and decided that I liked Gordon. I like him a lot.

It's a good thing because today is their 20th wedding anniversary.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Gordon.

can you see the moose?

can you see the moose?, originally uploaded by jill y.

apple cider at the Stanley Park Light show

apple cider and apple cheek bones, originally uploaded by jill y.

Catherine dragged me out despite being down with the flu to see the lights at Stanley Park. You get on a little toy train and travel a loop around Stanley Park where the Vancouver Firefighters have set up a huge display of Christmas lights. I was so sick, but did manage a smile and really enjoyed the train ride. I might do it again. The best part was the wizard. Go. Go and see it.

walking down The Drive in December with Sonia.

blooms in December, originally uploaded by jill y.

a reason to avoid 7-11

Seen on a label for some sort of concoction spinning on heated rollers by the till, while waiting to pay for Fisherman Friend Cherry lozenges,

"Looks like a hot dog- tastes like a cheeseburger"

regime

regime, originally uploaded by jill y.

Previously posted here, but this time I have photographic proof.

Take a large container suitable for a hand mixer to use a blender.

Add 1/4 cup uncooked oatmeal
Add various amounts of:
pecans
walnuts
almonds
sunflower seeds
pumpkin seeds
flax seeds

Cover with water plus 1/2 more, cover with a plate and soak over night.

In the morning, blend nut and seed mixture with:
1 banana
1/4 cup of berries
2 tbsp of fish oil or my favorite: Udo's Oil
a handful of raw spinach
be brave- throw an avocado in there too

Blend the shit out of it.

Drink it all or share it.

IT ROCKS MY WORLD

"What food these morsels be"

"What food these morsels be", originally uploaded by jill y.

the wild leading the wild

She and her tomcat, Eli live in a one room cabin with a near a community of 300.

She fell in love with Wyoming while driving though on a little road trip from San Francisco to New york City.

She ditched NYC after a month and returned to a place "she had only spent a day in".

One day a 10 day old coyote cub came into her life after its parents were killed.

She named it Charlie and decided to let it live with her.

It's called the Daily Coyote , she takes great photos and I'm hooked.

bundled

bundled, originally uploaded by jill y.

adventures in auto mechanics

Previously posted..

Not a Rambler or a Scamp

Who cares that it was an old car. It suited my needs. I enjoyed the idea of an engine so wide open you could climb right in-not knowing this would come in handy later. It was a Slant 6. A Valiant. Not a Rambler or a or a Scamp. It didn't hurt that guys liked to talk to me about my car or that it often stalled in the rain. After all, I had me some jumper cables.

It had an immaculate white vinyl back seat. It was perfect. Big windows and little side ones that pivoted open. You know the ones they don't make anymore. I had ideas about that car that involved the open road, my left arm on the window sill, my right hand gripping the top of the steering wheel and the straight yellow dotted line stretched out in front like an giant line of bread crumbs leading home. Well, I had other plans than just that. I named it Rose because it was green and thought about maybe switching the front bucket seats to a bench and getting a 'necker knob' for kicks.

On one sunny Saturday morning, with a bag of banana chips, a bottle of water, and a pocket full of optimism, I got to the US border and found fluid was spitting and steaming from behind the front grill. A bulging seam on the radiator head gasket squeezed steam slowly while 2 border guards looked at me sceptically. The puddle beneath my car said there were surely problems on the way but, me and that back seat, and the shitty radiator were waved on and off I went down the road headed for Seattle and beyond..

Blow that seam Open

I'll tell you that open road was there. And an adventure unbeknown st to me was unveiling. Sensing a situation on my hands, I pulled off the I-5 outside of Everett, Washington. I knew there was a problem on my hands with the damn radiator. I pulled into a shop and they were just closing. The hissing from the front of my car was scary. I didn't know what to do.

I saw another shop and wearily asked if i could use the phone. I was due in Portland to see my dad. I phoned him up and told him what was happening. I was stressed, scared and exasperated. "I'm not coming to get you." was the voice on the other end of the line telling me- you're on your own. And I was- on my own with a car older than me, a major engine issue and not much else.

Tears streaming down my face, the man in the shop said "what's your problem?". " I have a busted rad in my old Valiant and no one is open." "Why dontcha take it on down the road a few blokes to such and such a shop- they're open late." And that's what I did. I pulled up, jumped out of my funny little adventure that was kicking me in the shins and put on my best charming smile and explained that i had a "little problem".

"Oh sure- that's nothing. They dropped a 'stop-leak' in the rad and soldered the seam. "Can I get to Portland?" "Sure, just take it easy- you don't want to blow that seam open." They charged me $25 bucks and said good luck.

I was back on the road and hopefully this adventure was going to turn around. My banana chips had been cashed in and there was a hole in my pocket of optimism. At 65 mph down the I-5, south of Seattle, the window in the 32 year old car dropped off it's crank, and I felt the wind in my face and it's not what I thought it would be.

At midnight I arrived. I had started off at 6 and those 12 hrs tested my guile, courage, and faith in humanity.Me and my radiator had been pushed to the limits. I knew the road back was going to be difficult and possibly a severely poor choice if I didn't get a new one. And I'll tell you.. finding Fran's Able Radiator 5 minutes up the road was a unusual coincidence.

6 Bolts and 2 Hose Clamps Later

I drove my car in the front gate. It was an open yard covered with patchy brown grass. To the left was an open shed full of torn apart cars and parts. To the right was a small white house that was rundown. I suspected it doubled as an office. The area was sealed off by a chain link fence that circled the perimeter. 2 mangy mutt dogs roamed within the compound.

Fran was a robust woman in her 40's. She had a big head with dusty grey blond curls. She wore a phone headset, a greasy baseball cap, and a pair of navy blue overalls. A cell phone rode her hip like a gun holster. She looked me up and down.

"So you're Canadian. I like Canadians. Once I had one let me across the border with my trailer even though I didn't have the permit." She talked about us like we were a cut of meat she might find at the butcher- on a good day.

I needed a radiator and she had one to sell me.

"I won't charge you any labor if you do it yourself."

With no idea what I was getting into whatsoever, I said OK.

A acquisitive look crossed her face. Her eyes squinted at me from behind greasy spectacles.

"Do you have tools?"

"no." lower case n. -shit. I didn't have a clue let alone tools.

"OK, I'll show you." And Fran fetched a wrench and a pail. She gave me a 5 minute lesson in replacing a radiator and walked away.

6 bolts and 2 hose clamps later, I knew this car and I were going to go a long way.

My father came into the lot when I was almost done and proudly I told him what I had done.

To my chagrin, he didn't seem very impressed. But I was. Me and that car- we were going to be fine and we were going to go far.

looks like Edmonton

looks like Edmonton, originally uploaded by jill y.

but it's not.

transportation the old fashioned way

transportation the old fashioned way, originally uploaded by jill y.

spice up your life

I remember when I was about 13- there was a caterer who lived in the neighbourhood. Maybe I baby sat for them or something because I got this invitation to help at the KISS Concert at the Edmonton Kinsmen Field House. I was excited. I didn't have a clue who KISS where but it sounded like fun to help at a rock concert.

My dad (who may or may not be reading this- which would be odd as he never calls me) said no. Said they were devil worshipers and no- I definitely could not go. I was disappointed. I still am. Experiences like that could have set me on the straight and narrow. Maybe I would have found something that intrigued me or interested me in a search for a career. Maybe I would have thought the whole thing was stupid and focused on school but instead I have always been slightly amorous of the elusive "back stage pass" or of the people who set up or travel with concerts.

Thus when the opportunity to work the merchandising stands at the Spice Girls Concert came up.. I jumped.

When you're feeling sad and low
We will take you where you gotta go
Smiling, dancing, everything is free
All you need is positivity

Everything is free except the fake back stage passes and glow sticks I'll be selling to 12 year olds at tonight concert. You know the one that kicks off the world tour? It's going to be fun. I need to find my whistle though.

6 windows in Paris

some of you lurked and some of you didn't

Some of you lurk and some of you don't.

On the first day of November, I vowed to make something super special from my own nimble fingers JUST FOR YOU- the person who would post the MOST comments on my blog.

Well the tally is in. The calculations have been made. And I'm not surprised who won. Everybody else who commented was usually off at their jobs in which they get paid for but one person with the most important job of all- the job in which no one gives you a pay cheque (no, this job is not travelling around Europe with a 25kg pack on your back, but somewhat similar without the scenery.). No- this job is being a stay at home Mom and the winner to my little contest was BESS.

Thank you Bess, for taking the time to love my little blog with all your comments. On day soon I will print that photo and make you something sweet.

the end

It's officially the end of my 2nd anniversary of NaBloPoMo- a.k.a National Blog Posting Month where I posted everyday for November. You can peruse the posts of 2006 here. In honor of this accomplishment, I am celebrating with one of my favorite episodes of Sesame street featuring Bip Bippadotta* (the counterpart to Mahna Mahna from yesterday's post video).

*incidentally- I'd like to point out that there is "Muppet Wiki"- a fraction of Wikipedia dedicated to The Muppet's. How bizarre.

in honor of Catherine receiving her Master's Degree in Education.

Congratulations, Catherine. You've come along way.

interesting fact

I am made with the sauce of awesomeness according some of my customers at work.

say it loud and say it proud..

...and put it on a hoodie (or a tshirt or a pair of panties or a bag or..)

Neighbourhoodies is one of my favorite companies EVER. Once, I even suggested a work exchange. I would trade a year at my current situation to live in Brooklyn and sew letters on hoodies. They will literally put anything you want, in a huge array of fonts, letters embroidered or stitched or glued. A rainbow of colors and styles to choose, even babies can have a neighborhoodie (Bess- I can hear the wheels cranking already). The possibilities are endless and even better.. the chances of running into someone with the same thing is slim to NONE.

Don't know what to get me for Christmas?? Here's a hint.

The boring "I don't know what to post so I'll post this shot" post.

reflections, originally uploaded by jill y.

better reminders

A response to 'reminders' was brought to my attention by Elevated Umbrella.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

for my mom

Hi Mom- It was great to have you see my apartment, seeing that the last time you were here I was just moving in. Now you had a chance to see that I live in a little tiny sanctuary next to a lake. But, I forgot to show you this- the only reason why I have this little hedgehog is because it reminds me of being at home with you.

Lots of love,
Jill



edit for Bess: the little hedge hog is something my mom has on the edge of a bowl in her kitchen. The neighbors had a garage sale this pass summer and were selling the exact same one for $1. I couldn't resist because I always identified with it being in my mom's kitchen.

reminders

-Do not strive for greatness, but for goodness - greatness lies in all things good.
-If you can be fair, then choose fairness.
-If you can be calm, choose calmness.
-Sadness will bring you closer to God. Happiness can be trivial and frivolous if only sought for one's self.
-See the world and never stop trying to understand other cultures.
-If you are afraid of dying, you will not live a true life.
-Time will heal all things. Being idle solves nothing.
-The only thing that eases grief is grieving; let it take you over if you want to survive it. Keeping it at bay will cause internal unrest.
-Never judge others for you will only be judging yourself.
-Be outside as much as possible. Walk whenever you can.
-Be responsible for your thoughts; they are powerful entities that will design your future.
-Help others whenever possible.
-Giving your time will always be bigger than giving from your wallet.
-Depression is an underestimated tool. It can be Nature’s way of turning you around to face the light.
-Companionship is the greatest of all things, without it we are inhuman.
-To want to know others will bring you life's greatest joy. Friendships are golden.
-Laugh at yourself.
-Stand up in the face of disaster.
-Walk towards the sunrise rather than the sunset; you'll enjoy fuller days.
-Never abandon your own heart.
-Be easy with yourself; be kind with your soul.
-Change everything on a whim, if you want to.
-Cause no pain to others. Be tolerant, always.

grabbed from a friend's photo page

ruby gets a new toy

I bought Ruby a new toy. A ball of felted wool with a center of cat nip. Naturally she chose to attack it.

the door to my heart

Why don't we make these things anymore?

knocking at heaven's door

No words. I just think Art Nouveau is the most beautiful period of art, hands down.

green door

"Midnight, one more night without sleepin'
Watchin' till the mornin' comes creepin'
Green door, what's that secret you're keepin'

There's an old piano
And they play it hot behind the green door
Don't know what they're doin'
But they laugh a lot behind the green door
Wish they'd let me in
So I could find out what's behind the green door"

the doors of perception

I stumbled upon this gem in the near the Ixelles Ponds in Brussels. It was built in 1904 by architect Ernest Delune.


"Rue du Lac n 6
Architect: Ernest Delune. 1904

This façade with stylised forms is one of the most original elements of the Art Nouveau heritage in Brussels. The geometric motif is declined in full moon, half moon and quarter moon. A very beautiful glass roof sheds light on the staircase. The last floor is composed of a large bow window in wood that housed the painter’s studio."


It was definitely one of my favorite's and I went back to it twice. I was lingering around outside when the neighbours came out and, you know, I said I was Canadian and loved the house and "wow, you live next door?" The woman said that the man who lived in the house was not very nice. So I left him a note that read something like this:

"Hello. I am a fan of Art Nouveau and I found the lovely example you live in. I met your neighbours today. They said you are not a very nice man, but I am in disbelief that the sheer act of walking through this door everyday would not bring immense joy to one's life. I think you are very lucky."

I left my web page address and slipped it through the letterbox and walked away feeling like a smart-alec. But godamn it. I want to live in that house!!

door #2

10 things you didn't know about Art Nouveau

1. Name borrowed from the name of a Paris gallery, Maison de l'Art Nouveau. If it still exists- I couldn't find it.

2. Different from other design styles, it was possible to live an Art Nouveau lifestyle in an art nouveau house with art nouveau furniture, silverware, jewellery, pottery, poster arts, textiles and of course door knobs.

3.Most known for flourishing between 1892-1902.

4.Was a response to the industrial revolution and a desire for the "everyday man" to live stylishly.

5. Paris- Hector Guimard- famous for his wrought iron and glass Metro stations that still exist today.

6. Prague- Alphonse Mucha- famous for his poster arts in contribution to the Paris art scene, particularly this one.

7. Brussels- Victor Horta- famous for his architectural contributions to the style, The Hotel Tassel, his most famous. It's a private building and I sat outside for about 40 minutes wondering if I should try and talk my way inside. I didn't

8. Spain- Antoni Gaudi- famous for Parc Guell and Casa Mila, which clearly emphasizes the curvaceous and sinuous nature of the style. I was too busy eating strawberries to take note when I walked past it.


9. USA- Louis Comfort Tiffany- famous for Tiffany lamps and of course- Tiffany & Co.

10. Natural, organic shapes often of leaves, insects, grasses etc..with flowing waves, curves, and "the whiplash line" are characteristic of the Art Nouveau style.

through the door way of time

This was found through one of my "walking tours" of Brussels. I had a map of significant area of Art Nouveau. There were 5 different tours and each day i set out in effort to walk the whole tour. The biggest one I did was 26 k according to my pedometer. I have no idea where in Brussels I snapped this but easily concluded that who ever gets to walk through this door everyday is one lucky bird.

Keep checking back while I pick my favorite doorways and post them this week.

mirror mirror

mirror mirror, originally uploaded by jill y.

look down

look down, originally uploaded by jill y.

My favorite people photo I have ever snapped.

double take

That's my phot on the top, and their's on the bottom

art nouveau, brussels

This is a detail from the railing in the Belgian Center For Comic Strips in Brussels. It was a public building and I just walked on in and just about gasped out loud by the beautiful ornate ironwork decorating the inside of the building.

By the way did you know that Brussels, is also know for being the birth pace of the Smurfs?.

and the winner is....

BESS. She was the one who correctly picked the statement that was not true in the Speak No Lies post. Congratulations Bess.

And so to recap:

1. I can tell you a little bit about 100 different cheeses.

Yes, this is true. I once worked in a cheese deli where I found I had an uncanny passion for cheese. I am drawn to the details and stories like celery to cheeze wizz. It's been a while but put me in a cheese shop and it will come flooding back.

2. My right arm is tattooed with an art nouveau design of wheat and rosebuds.

Yes, this is true. Need I say more.

3. I meditate every day.

My friend Sonia said she wanted to pick this one but was afraid of offending me if it was true. She said- what if it was something I did in secret and never said anything. Maybe it was too personal a choice and that's what stumped everyone. Bess got it. I have no idea why my mother and sister would think this was true. I mean, I can't even get to Yoga class.

4. I can not drive a standard transmission vehicle in traffic.

Up and down a deserted road- sure. In traffic? Hello no. I panic and stall the vehicle. I do not have excellent foot/eye/hand co-ordination.

5. I have driven a combine.

True. My uncle Ken drove me across the fields at my grandmother's farm while they were harvesting a crop. I got to sit in the cab and all of a sudden the farmer said- OK you drive. It's actually quite easy as it won't go any faster than 10 miles per hour.

6. Even though I ride 12km to commute to work, I do not know how to fix a flat tire on my bike.

Sad but true. I think about it every day I ride to work. "What if I get a flat?" Must work on that.

7. I know just about everything one could know about Janis Joplin.

Yes. Ask me anything.
Room she died in-105 Landmark Hotel, Hollywood.
DOB Jan 19, 1943.
Died Oct 4 1970 of an accidental overdose. She was 27
Middle name Lyn
Last know address, 380 W Baltimore Avenue, Larkspur California- It's currently for sale but I did once talk my way inside.
Grew up in Port Arthur, Texas- I drove there from Calgary to see where she went to high school
Studied art at the University of Texas in Austin, voted Ugliest man on Campus by her classmates. I went to Austin too to go to Threadgill's- the bar she started singing in.
She didn't like acid or pot, preferred to drink.
Voracious reader and a secret intellectual
Mother was a registrar, father worked for Texaco.
2 younger siblings- Michael and Laura- they now run the corporation she started before she died- Fantality Corporation (combination of 2 words- Fantasy and Reality)
2 tattoos- a small red heart over her left breast and an ornate bracelet on her right wrist.
She once smashed a bottle over Jim Morrison's head. They didn't get along.
Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix all died within 6 weeks of one another, they were all 27 and their first names start with J and all with 5 letters (Jim and Jimi were short for James).

8. I am scared of heights so I jumped out of a plane at 3000 feet. My chute got tangled.

Most frightening thing I have ever done in my entire life except for #9 and getting to Paris at 11 o'clock at night without a clue or a bed to sleep in. I could barely get out the door of the plane. You step out onto a little step over the wheel and grab a hold of the airplane strut. I couldn't let go. My "jump master" almost had to pry my fingers off and finally I just straightened my fingers and thought I would die. When my chute deployed, I looked up and the lines were twisted. You have to reach up, grab hold of the lines and pull outwards to get them to untwist. I still have no idea how I had the presence of mind to do that as I was completely paralyzed with fear. But then the chute opens, you get yanked upwards by a current of air and then you spend 10 minutes drifting back to earth. 3000 feet above the planet, alone in the sky with the birds. It was incredible and I highly recommend you do not go through life without experiencing jumping from a plane.

9. I shared a cab with 2 strippers from Calgary to Edmonton.

Yes, this is true. Long story. We missed the Greyhound. It was cheaper than flying.

10. Once, I went to Mexico for lunch.

Remember when I said I drove to Port Arthur Texas to see where Janis Joplin grew up and went it hight school? Ya- so on the way back, and being in Texas, I crossed the border into Mexico and had lunch, walked around, and went back to Texas. I've never been back to Mexico since.

So there you have it. Thank for all of you who took a guess. Was it fun?

Harry and the NY souvenir

I used to have this friend- Nancy.

Nancy had this cool apartment with the wall between her living room and kitchen knocked out showing only the exposed framing. I loved it. She had a couch and chairs and things. I was living sparse at the time with everything I owned able to be packed into a 1969 Plymouth Valiant (that actually looked alot like this except for green). Anyway- Nancy had a painting on her wall and I vowed that I too would one day have paintings.

I would have art.

Jump ahead a few years.

I'm in NYC. My sister is with me and we are visiting the Chelsea Flee Market*. I pass some guy smoking a joint and shendangle myself a few hoots. Suddenly, I feel quite high. I walk by some paintings and suddenly my old urge to own art springs forth violently. I must have this one painting. I ask the nearest person,

Who's selling these. I point to the painting

In thick Brooklyn accent, yelling: Harry, somebody wants to buy your mother's pictures.

Harry comes over and gives me the once over. Suddenly I am full of bravado and feeling very New Yorkerish.

Your mother's paintings? I roll my eyes.

Ya, that's right. Harry gruffs.

Well, what do you want for this one. And don't tell me it's a family heirloom.

50 bucks.

Nah. I'll give you 5 tops. (I'm feeling cocky. Harry is an oogler and I'm a little stoned and hey, this is NYC!!)

Look sweetheart, this is fine art. I'll let you (looks me up and down) have it for 30.

Look Harry, I'm not some little shit tourist looking for a keepsake (actually I am). I'll give you 10.

Harry-15

Me- 12

Harry-Sold

M- Thanks Harry.

Can I have your number?

No- I have issues with hair. Sorry. You're name is Harry. It will never work.

And I walked away.

Then I walk up to my sister, painting in hand, and say:

Look what I bought.

Then I dragged the damn thing all over Gotham all day and managed to ship it home. It perfectly represented the "quick, now, urgent, tap, tap, tap" pace of NY and I have loved it since the moment I saw it. Stoned or not. (sorry Mom- but this is my blog and you are fully aware of my past marijuana consumption anyway)


*keep in mind the Chelsea Flea Market is this weird kind of place full of junk and treasures where most vendors refuse to barter because Anna Sui is their "best customer".

identifying marks

It's mostly all healed and lacking the Frankenstein stitch marks that gave a truly gruesome quality. I call it my character developing scar.

Do you like it?

By the way- Catherine- I just wanted to let you know that this was taken with my Mac book that takes a MIRROR IMAGE photo and thus- this scar is located on my right side- same as my wheat tattoo.

lost in translation

Truly kooky

any more takers??

For guessing the answer to this post?

So far- I am printing only one photo and it's NOT for my mother.

who needs a measured recipe

-take a large soup pot.
-season 2 chicken breasts with S&P, turmeric and curry or whatever; brown
-saute some onion/ garlic in olive oil.
-add chopped celery
-on the side make some stock with Better Than Bouillon- Vegetable Base*
-add stock to sauteed onions/ garlic/ celery/ and chicken
-add chopped carrots
-add quartered baby potatoes, yams, turnips, squash etc
-add chopped ginger and 1 cup of red lentils
-bring to a boil, then simmer on low for 15- 20 minutes
-add a can of chopped tomatoes and a very small teaspoon of honey.
-fish out the chicken and chop into smaller pieces, add back to soup.

-Presto! Soup.

*Better than Bouillon Vegetable is all veggie baby- no meat. It rocks my socks.

if your naughty or nice

a year ago today

I found myself in a quaint hotel in Dallas, Texas with a rental car. What took me to Dallas was an unusual twist of events that went something like this:

A man walked into a store and says to the girl behind the counter; "My wife loves your products and I would like to propose to her. Could I get the message put inside one of your products?"

The store called me. I work where the products are made.

I called the man.

A shipment was arranged with one of the products with the message inside.

I wished him luck.

A blue envelope arrived one day in the mail.

The happy couple invited me to their wedding reception and I went.

I went to their wedding reception and mingled with their friends and family in a gorgeous loft warehouse apartment owned by a Dallas Photographer and his wife. I was nervous and felt somewhat out of place seeing that I had never met the lovely couple. I have never had such a lovely time with a room full of strangers as I did at the wedding reception of Christine and Michael Cluff.

It was an incredible experience for me to be invited to share in their incredible day, all because of a little phone call.

Today is their 1 year anniversary. Happy One Year Michael and Christine!!

..but..that's not..all

Because I didn't stay in town- I didn't attend the wedding of my friend Charlotte to Kevin. I spent the days prior talking with Charlotte as she carefully cut the silken pieces to her wedding dress. We sat and chatted while I embroidered a pillow case (which later became a gift to them). I made the wedding registry book and had offered to take the pictures, but the trip to Dallas came up.

Happy One Year Anniversary to you too Charlotte and Kevin!!

One of these days I will embroider the other pillow case. It's 500 french knots that are holding me back.

Lots of love to both of the couples I know that made it official today- one year ago.

on the road

Michael and I are braving the border crossing to take our inflated Canadian queens over to the other side in search of retail therapy.

Also- not sure if you all know this but Blaine Washington is where Loretta Lyn got her start when she was "discovered" singing in a local bar.

a ripple in time

August 1940. Little girl at the Reitz farm near Falls Creek, Pennsylvania, washing eggs to be sold at Tri-County Farmers Co-op Market at Du Bois. 3¼ inch safety negative by Jack Delano, Farm Security Administration.


I love old photos. I love to see how people cut their hair, the clothes they wore, the shoes they walked in, the cras they drove and the things they did. One of these days i'll have to get scanned the photos of my mother as a 4-5 year old sitting on the running board of an old Ford truck. It's priceless.

Instead, i pop in to Shorpy, the 100 year old photo blog, which, is where I grabbed the above photo. I highly reccomend it as a daily look-see as i have a link up over to the left under "stray kisses".

By the way- according to the site, the name Shorpy comes from "Shorpy Higginbotham, a boy who worked in an Alabama coal mine near the turn of the century."

the most amazing invention

If you are not aware YET or the amazing versatility of tofu, I have to wonder in what forgotten village have you been living in.

I have discovered the most amazing thing since kicking myself off all dairy products (yes, including cheese as well)

Tofutti's "Better than Cream Cheese" is my new best friend.

And for those of you who want to whip my non dairy ass back into reality with comparisons to non hydrolyzed margarine (Hi Michael.) Not today, I'm self medicating with carrot sticks.

speak no lies?

This lovely photo could be yours if you can spot the one untrue statement in the 10 below. should you catch me out, I will print this lovely shot of a vintage mannequin snapped in Prague as a 8x10, sign the back and send it to you, if all goes well with the printer. If there are issues, we can chat about it then. Winners will be announced on Thursday Nov 15th.

Good Luck


1. I can tell you a little bit about 100 different cheeses.

2. My right arm is tattooed with an art nouveau design of wheat and rosebuds.

3. I meditate every day.

4. I can not drive a standard transmission vehicle in traffic.

5. I have driven a combine.

6. Even though I ride 12km to commute to work, I do not know how to fix a flat tire on my bike.

7. I know just about everything one could know about Janis Joplin.

8. I am scared of heights so I jumped out of a plane at 3000 feet. My chute got tangled.

9. I shared a cab with 2 strippers from Calgary to Edmonton.

10. Once, I went to Mexico for lunch.

hello- my name is jack

hello- my name is jack, originally uploaded by jill y.

regime

Take a large container suitable for a hand mixer to use a blender.

Add 1/4 cup uncooked oatmeal
Add various amounts of:
pecans
walnuts
almonds
sunflower seeds
pumpkin seeds
flax seeds

Cover with water plus 1/2 more, cover with a plate and soak over night.

In the morning, blend nut and seed mixture with:
1 banana
1/4 cup of berries
2 tbsp of fish oil or my favorite: Udo's Oil
a handful of raw spinach

Blend the shit out of it.

Drink it all or share it.

IT ROCKS MY WORLD

I've got a smile for every one I meet.

I rode to work yesterday. I thought it would stay sunny and warm all day. I wore fleece pants and a hoodie, gloves and headed off to work. Somewhere through the day the sunny skies turned grey and quickly ugly with impending Vancouver showers. I knew the ride home would be difficult, dark and filled with traffic.

Keep on. Keep on. Just push that peddle down. You can do this.

"Middle of the road is trying to find me. I'm standing in the middle of the road..."

The Pretenders, "Middle of the Road" , tune kicks in to the ear buds just I'm cresting the top of the 20 block climb.

"Come on baby. Get in the road. Come on now..in the middle of the road now..yeah."

Just what I needed. A good does of Chrissie Hynde pumping through my Ipod, to get me through the rest of the ride. Vancouver is blessed with a mild climate and rarely any snow. We get a lot of rain though. Nevertheless, we have a large community of cyclists and thankfully bike routes the snake through the city. I keep to these as much as possible. Safety in numbers.

"In the middle of the road, you see the darnest things."

Coming down Ontario Street on the other side of the hill I have climbed, I join the pack of blinking lights. About 30 cyclists are making their way down the road, navigating through and alongside the park cars, the ones in motion, and the piles of leaves that have been pummeled to a soggy bran flake consistency.

Bright steady headlights blinding. Small blinking little lights reassuring. Proud to be one of the fleet of tiny lights of self propelled power, I followed the gliding stream infront of me through the dark and rain until safely home.

"yeah.."

now you know my ABC's

A- Diane Arbus is an inspiration to me on being fearless with a camera.
B-Thanks Bess for buying me black radishes.
C-Cheese baby- I may be dairy free right now but bring my my applewood smoked cheddar.
D-I snatched this idea from Daisies.
E-My home town is Edmonton.
F-I make decisions based mostly on how I feel.
G-Want to know a secret- I LOVE giraffes. No one knows this except you.
H- I don't like it when the weather is hot. I like Spring and Fall the best when the air is cooler.
I- The devil makes work for idle hands.
J- One of my favorite names is Jack because it's a great old school, 1930's farm boy kind of name. It would be impossible to date a Jack though. Too bad.
K-I once won a kite flying contest in Grade 3. I kept the laminated "certificate" for a long time.
L-I no longer have a lipoma.
M- My favorite cheeses are Manchego & Mimolette
N-NaBloPoMo, all the way.
O-I ate Octopus once when I was about 15 and never ever, ever did it again. No, it did not taste like chicken
P- I love the prairies.
Q- My grandmother on my father's side, before she passed away, gave me spoons commemorating the Dionne Quintuplets. I still have them. I cherish them.
R- I have tattooed rosebuds on my right arm.
S-My mother's side of the family is from Scotland. I changed my last name to my mother's maiden name after visiting Scotland with my mother and her mother when I was 23. I went back 3 years later and lived in Edinburgh for a while.
T- I collect spools of thread. Sometimes I will buy thread for some "project" in the future and can spend a long time carefully matching thread to swaths of fabric. I keep them all in a giant glass apple on a shelf in my kitchen.
U- Uculet on Vancouver Island is a very boring place. I went there once when Michael and I went to Long Beach. We were in Uculet for maybe an hour, but only because there was a kooky antique shop with a boat out front. I took this photo.
V- I will probably never own another vehicle but the one I did have was a 1969 Plymouth valiant that I named Rose.
W- Another favorite photographer is Weegee. He was a crime scene photographer in NYC in the 30's. Named Weegee for "Ouija" as he seemed to get to events before anybody else. Really- he had a police radio in his car. He received fame for his habit of photographing the crowd response to the crime scene or involving it somehow. When I was in NY, I happened to see an exhibit of over 300 of his original photographs. I almost shit.
X- I have x-rays of my teeth. I wish I could have a whole body x-ray emailed to me in pieces.
Y-I wish I practiced Yoga. I used to and then I stopped. Sometimes I miss it.
Z- When I ride my bike to work, 1/2 the commute is downhill. I ZOOM.

when looking to catch a fish- throw a really big net.

See.. just when you thought the Internet was a waste of time and full of seemingly irrelevant and inaccurate facts.. you forgive yourself for ever thinking so. For, when one day someone uses it as a giant "Looking for you ad."

So sweet.

I called Patrick to say good luck and if you find her make sure to let the Internet know. You should call him too.

Because the boy in blue said so.

IMGP6804.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

Found this gem walking around the neighborhood today. had to walk onto someone's porch to "take a closer look".

5 things

1. I like to crotchet, sew and embroider.
2. I have a small collection of small birds like my grandmother.
3. I like photography because I can't draw or paint.
4. I would like to have a garden but I'm afraid I'd neglect it and it would die.
5. The nutmeg grater my mother gave me if my favorite kitchen tool.

on a rainy night coming down Victoria Drive

on a rainy night comming down Victoria Drive, originally uploaded by jill y.

black radishes

black radishes, originally uploaded by jill y.

so funny I laughed out loud

via Jenguin

saving daylight

Some say it is good. It gives us longer summer hours and longer days of light in the winter. Some say bollocks and point their pointy fingers at the increase in auto accidents as people adjust to time changes. Other's pity and plight for the ones with sleeping disorders who face serious upset to their already precarious routines. The rest of us either relish in the "extra hr to sleep in" though or mildly grip about "having to get up one hr earlier".

In any case...don't forget to put your clocks back 1 hr sometimes between midnight tonight and 3 am tonight.

Things you can do when you bored or otherwise known as blogging is taking over my life.

I just found a curious little website called X365- Basically it's to write 40 words (no more, no less) every day for a year, about a different person who touched your life. But it can't be just anyone, it has to be someone you've actually met in person, AND someone whose name you still remember. Is this even possible. What if you suck at remembering names? I do. I have been know to walk up to people I have known for years and completely gaped on their names. You know and thinking about this- I'd have to possibly make up those names and pull up random experiences and "called them touching".

I mean- there was that woman in the neighborhood who used to give me cookies. I remember sitting in her living room on the patterned couch upholstered in some sort of fabric like velour where it was smooth one way and rough the other. My tiny feet on the thick blue shag carpet. Tassels tied back the long heavy beige curtains draping the front pane glass living room window. A film of dust meandered through a sunbeam. A plate on the lacquered table had chocolate chip cookies and a tall glass of milk stood near by like a beloved companion. I remember all of those things (and embellish them with my 36 year old mind) and that it touched my little 4 year old heart to get free cookies but her name? Forget it.

But I am inspired to write about how people have "touched" my life by reading the delightful, insightful, ponderosa meanderings of Schmutzie who has quickly become one of my favorite blogs. Do go and take a look- but here's an example:

When I came over to play on Sundays, you apologized for your parents making me help clean and take part in the family nap, but I secretly loved it. It was quiet, equanimous, so different than my house. There was nothing quite like lying with all the others in silence.

Inspiring stuff. Makes me think of life in whimsical ways.

Side note- I just used the word ponderosa. I don't know why. The only association of have of that word is for Ponderosa Steakhouse in Edmonton. But thinking about Schmutzie's blog it rolled out of my mind like a tumbleweed on a windy prairie day and looking up the word, I think it's fitting. "Planted for timber and ornamental". (to self- Well done, Jill)

ponderosa |ˌpändəˈrōsə| (also ponderosa pine) noun a tall slender pine tree, the most widespread conifer of western North America, planted for timber and as an ornamental. • Pinus ponderosa, family Pinaceae.

bad bruise

As a result of my lipoma surgery, I have a pretty nasty bruise and underneath that bandage- 7 stitches closing a 2 inch incision. Fun stuff people. Stitches come out tomorrow and of course- MORE PHOTOS!!

reading material

When I signed on for NABLOPOMO, I was #130.

Now there are 1354 members.

Need something to read? Check out the list of blogs.

Just don't stray to far from MKP.

And if you do- My friend, Bess, is signed up and it's worth it just for pictures of her cute baby, and she's pretty cool too.

rehab

I am at it again. If you were around reading this blog last year, you might remember the whole month of November included at least one posting a day for every month. It's called NABLOPOMO or National Blog Posting Month. This is akin to running dental floss through your brain and loosing all those bits of rotting orange pulp and sinewy meat that stuck way down between the molar like synapses of your brain. Thoughts you didn't know you had start appearing as you grip the keyboard in a mad search of blog "material".

Should be a fun month. I wonder what juicy gems I'll come up with.

And to make it a little bit interesting, I'll be running a wee contest. for those of you out there (yes all 5 of you- Hi Sonia. Hi Mom. Hi Jane. Hi Bess. Hi Sis.) who post the most comments will win a specially made something from me. Last year I made a hand embroidered lavender sachet for Daisies. So, you know, it's worth it to roll those comments in for the National Blog Posting Month.

happy halloween

Diane Arbus.

shattered

get caught in a web, originally uploaded by jill y.

status

I am sore. My shoulder feels like someone sucker punched it really hard. My arm feels incapacitated as a response. Feeble and helpless. Sad. I feel crampy too. Bloated. I can't shower until after Wednesday and my boyfriend has disappeared to the Sunshine Coast for work until sometime next week. Did I mention it's cold and raining outside?

There was nothing else to do except go to MEC and buy a pair of fleece pants, do laundry and watch a movie.

cut it out

There was a pin prick and a faint numbing when the anesthetic was pushed under my skin through a tiny needle. I began to feel nauseous and nervous. I did not anticipate any of this when my wheels made the leaves crackle beneath them as I rode to the doctor's office. I felt drops of cool fluid flow into my tiny ravine made by the bones and flesh of my collar. The wetness ran across my shoulder and down my back. Dr. Irving swabbed the area with a disinfectant.

I could feel my skin separate from the pressure of the blade. I knew there was blood but couldn't feel it. The entire surface of my skin tensed and my blood rushed in an automatic response to flee this danger. I begged myself to not vomit or pass out and I screeched involuntarily as the doctor clamped and tugged and tugged and clamped. He asked me questions and my mind reeled and I spoke random thoughts, a stream of consciousness and facts came gurgling out of me..

I have a cat. She is white. Her name is Ruby. My apartment is a mess. I need to do laundry. I want to go home. This hurts. I don't like this. I don't like this. I don't like this. Can it be over now. I will not throw up. I feel like I am going to pass out. OUCH. OK. Stay calm. How much longer? Minutes or seconds? OUCH. OUCH. My arm! There was a shooting pain up down my arm. Oh my god ohmygodohmygod..

I lay there wondering if I could ever endure childbirth. I tried to actually notice that nothing was actually painful but rather just so disturbing and invasive. I knew I had an opening in my skin. I knew my skin has been clamped back and I knew someone was digging around and snipping something away from the body that created it. It was a mini, tiny C- section below my shoulder and I was begging for it to be over.

And then it was. I could feel my skin being tugged and stitched back together. I started to relax. Disinfectant squirted over the fresh wound and bit of dressing and bandages applied. That was it. It seemed like it would last forever but it was over in 5 minutes and my body no longer housed a lipoma, but I was not handed a tiny bundle wrapped in cloth.

Instead, blobs of yellowish, shiny, tissue material lay bloody on a stainless steel table looking
...deceptively... like organic chicken.

road to heaven

road to the end of the world, originally uploaded by jill y.