triumph

From my apartment to my job is precisely 10.87 km by bicycle.

I have, in this week, cycled a total of:

10 commutes, or 108.72 km

or burned approximately 3,109.39 cal

or saved the planet of 25.66 kg of carbon dioxide had I driven a car or taken the bus.

My reward? A 1 hr massage on Sunday.

rawr

I bike to work most mornings. I set off sometimes on the same route. Sometimes I meander through neighborhoods. Today I was coming up a slight hill and I saw something run across the street about 1/2 a block up. It was large. I casually thought, 'was that a cougar? Nah'. But when I got up to the end of the street and a small SUV was driving slowly along the street, I saw what they were watching and what I had 'seen'.

It was a somewhat timid or cautious young female coyote walking along the sidewalk, who looked like she would give good chase and take a bite out of my leg if she caught up. Mesmerising, in the funny way you wouldn't expect to see an elephant walking down the residential streets.

All I could think of was poor little Ruby being carted away for some thing's breakfast.

high expectations

I went to Dadeo's and it didn't cut it. I thought about trying something new on the menu but I went with my old favorite- the blackened chicken po'boy.

The French roll was dry and not the 'so soft it will melt in your mouth' memory of the one's in Edmonton. The chicken was nothing special and god how I hate manufactured beefsteak tomatoes and their mealy texture. The potato hash had an odd indescribable taste, like the potatoes had been boiled in dirty water. Worst of all was the coleslaw which tasted like it was a week old or had been left out for 3 days. It was definitely off. Telling the staff only caused me to be marked and later avoided. I tried to salvage the experience by having key lime pie for dessert.

I've had it in Edmonton- a tasteful wedge of luscious lime on a light graham crust, decorated with shavings of lime zest. Light, fruity and not too sweet. This one? It was nearly a quarter of a pie, tasted like lime jello mixed with whipping cream and set in a soggy wafer crust, half of which had broken off. A measly dollop of warm soupy whipping cream decorated the plate. It was so sugary, it was a defining moment when I seriously thought my future my include diabetes.

Worst of all- after an evening of fairly inattentive service, was the cheque. They didn't take anything off for serving me sour coleslaw.

I'm afraid to say it folks, but I don't know how soon I'll go back to DaDeO's on Cambie.

opening the floodgates

Are you one of those people who just has to stay the hell away from Ebay or Etsy because you just shouldn't be left alone late at night with a credit card?

Are you one of those people who gets a 5 day adrenalin rush just waiting for the mail to arrive because you've bought something.

And are you one of those people that sees a pretty picture and then fantasizes being inside the pretty picture so much that you can't stand it and you go out of your way to make it happen?

Well if you are.. you don't want to see this.

a balancing act

trio, originally uploaded by jill y.

po'boy heaven

po'boy heaven, originally uploaded by jill y.

oh boy oh boy oh boy!!

I have just found out my favorite restaurant has come to Vancouver.

This is an unexpected serendipity as just the other day I was salivating at the memory of blackened chicken po'boy's and chicory coffee. I was fantasizing about sweet potato and corn fritters and St.Louis ribs. Don't even get me started on thinking about the Bananas Foster or southern bread pudding drenched in rum sauce.

Such a craving I was having, thought of a quick trip back to Edmonton was a serious consideration. This restaurant is definitely on the top 5 reasons why I would move back there. Now, I only foresee my boyfriend taking me out to dinner in the very near future but so delectable is this cuisine, a whole party might be in order.

my boyfriend has me addicted to ACDC

can you judge a bookshelf by the books??

1. On Photography- Susan Sontag
2. The World Encyclopedia of Cheese
3. Do It!- Jerry Rubin
4. Diane Arbus- Patricia Bosworth
5. Janis- David Dalton
6. Weegee's World- Miles Barth
7. History of Art- 5th edition
8. The Crack Up- F. Scott Fitzgerald
9. The Tao of Pooh- Benjamin Hoff
10. Johnny Got His Gun- Dalton Trumbo

The days went by like a blur. She reflected on a moment's thought and was she was glad it wasn't through the end of a bottle.

blur, originally uploaded by jill y.

switched sides

I have made a monumental choice in my personal computing status. Michael pushed me into it with the offer to offset the cost by buying the old one. Visions of headaches and Craigslist danced in my head. Other visions of transporting airily light and thin computing possibilities circled like vultures in my imagination. All of a sudden I realized that I too could be someone in a cafe, happily blogging away behind the glowing apple, because you know, this is an important thing in life. How I've longed to have eye glasses that make me look smart, a ironic tshirt, and a table in a window in a cafe where i can spend hours pretending that I "work from wherever". God I hope you know I'm kidding.

But the idea of matching my laptop to my ipod (insert more sarcasm) was too much too bear for much longer. I jumped and I jumped hard.

I am now the proud owner of a brand new sleek, pretty, stylish, light, user friendly, matches my Ipod, black macbook.

It let's me take pictures.

Like this one.How fun.

it's the little things

homemade hummous with cumin and currants
hummous eaten with homemade pita chips with fresh cracked pepper and rock salt
just me, the cat and an a good movie
putting my bike on the bus to ride up the hill after work
riding down unfamiliar streets on a cool morning
lavender in the laundry detergent
new cookbooks and spicy spices
fresh flowers on the porch instead of the kitchen table
the farmer's market in the park across the street
bergamont rooiboos

better to eat you with

Sorry for the lack of updates lately.

There just hasn't been that much for me to sink my teeth into.



But don't you just love the marvel of modern technology? When has it ever been that you could have digital x-rays done and have them emailed to you before you got home. How many times have I wanted those little tiny teeth x-rays that the dentist would put up on the little light box on the wall. Geez- never mind those, how bought that one of my foot with the hairline fracture, or my knee, or my arm with the snapped bone? The art that could've been made.

speaking of food

I bought a new cookbook. I gave a favorite away to my favorite mother and felt the gaping hole on the cookbook shelf. Thinking about the foods I like to eat (salad, soup) and then using it as a criteria for a new book of recipes, I found Raising the Salad Bar by Catherine Walthers.

Other criteria used were:
-does it have good photographs? check
-is it easy to read? pretty font? check, check
-does it have a glossary or side pages of interesting info? check
-does it fall on at least 3 recipes you want to make when you flip through it? check

1. Arugula, celery and date salad with balsamic vinaigrette
2.Pesto pasta salad with chicken and oven roasted tomatoes.
3.Curried wheat berry salad with pistachio nuts and coconut (complete with curry-lime dressing recipe)

Ah, ya, don't even get me started on the back section of vinaigrette recipes..

add to the list

published photographer

Not really a huge deal but Schmap Guides, decided to publish a photograph of I took of Pioneer Plaza in Dallas for their map guide. When I am a paid published photographer, then that would be something to sneeze at.

Pack Rat Central- aka Rideau Antiques in Ontario

children of the corn

children of the corn, originally uploaded by jill y.

rural Ontario wildlife

rural Ontario wildlife, originally uploaded by jill y.

A snap with a little extra snap.

Hi,

I am writing to let you know that one of your photos has
been short-listed for inclusion in the third edition of our
Schmap Dallas Guide, to be published at the end of this month.

While we offer no payment for publication, many
photographers are pleased to submit their photos, as Schmap
Guides give their work recognition and wide exposure, and
are free of charge to readers. Photos are published at a
maximum width of 150 pixels, are clearly attributed, and
link to high-resolution originals at Flickr.

Best regards,

Luke Ritchie,
Managing Editor, Schmap Guides


Well, what ya know. Here's the pic being considered..

the thing to do

When you're 4000 miles from home, it's imperative that you buy a chair.

windows

I'm surprised that it didn't spread like a delicate plague.

Those little black spots of mold that took hold underneath the girly floral patterned wallpaper. They clustered there overtime growing larger and darker and more ominous. Pretty underneath the faded blue rose florals. Ominous where the plastered paper peeled back on itself. It didn't leave the room. The little dolls with the wobbly eyes and tattered handmade dresses, dusty despite all the water jugs didn't leave either.

I'm surprised at at that.

Surprised that the stories of rooms filled to the brim, the tiny but deliberate carved and carpeted paths have only mustered a shushed whisper maybe over coffee at the local Tim Horton's. Of a graveyard for antiques, had they once been living would have filled a city. Now, just gathered in little groups of friends, waiting. Something inside the walls of the yard and brittle slatted house, that keeps the secrets from leaving. It's as if a tiny wind blows from all sides, gently keeping all those possessions inside the gate and possibly bringing more with them.

Bringing another pile of window frames, another row of bottles. Stack up the pots. We'll fill them with food one day. Chairs piled so thick it was like walking into a wooden cobweb. A giant spider sitting in the corner waiting for it's next meal is just an old dresser with the drawers open like giant hands. The gentle prairie wind blows. Bringing with it the sorrows and losses from the times of war. From the times when it was painful to loose something so much that you held on tight to it all. Just put it over there. We'll make use of it one day. Someone will need it.

The wind with its secrets keeps all the dolls from speaking. They sit staring at the little tiny black spots forming, envying the books and magazines carefully in bags.



windows, originally uploaded by onecreativesource.