Me In New York

Thanks to airmiles and my friend Heather being here on work and having a lovely hotel room, I've had a little New York mini vacation this week. I arrived on Wednesday and Heather and I did a lovely french dinner and saw La Cage Aux Folles while drinking a great slug of red wine out of an absolutely ridiculous souvenir sippy cup! (I'd include the pic but I promised not to embarass Heather and it's of her).
Then on thursday we did up SOHO, Tribeca, the Tenement museum, and Times Square as well as walking the Brooklyn Bridge. Walking the Brooklyn bridge was absolutely inspiring. To think that they built all of this in the late 1800's is absolutely astonishing. i totally want to find a novel about that, it's fascinating! The tenement museum was also cool. We saw some of the apartments in the immmigrant neighbourhoods which were in the state that they were found in after having beeen closed up from about 1930 to 1980. And then we went into one that they had recreated and researched the life of one of the families that lived there. It was an Irish family that lived there in 1890. Really cool!
We also went to a crazy chocolate boutique that does really unusual savory flavours. And we had doughnuts from a world renowned doughnut place. Heather had peanut butter and jam, I had pistachio. That was lunch

Today we headed out for shopping (new shoes, $50, thank you) and the Museum of Modern Art. Then Heather had to rest before her show so I struck it out solo. Before my family asks, no I did not get lost, not even once. I did Macy's, took in an impromptu street breakdancing show, the Empire state building, walked 5th avenue to see Sacs and Gucci and Tiffany's and the like, toured by Central Park and did two cathedrals, St. Patrick and St. Thomas.

At the churches I lit a candle for my sister and my mother in law as they are both Catholic and St. Patricks is the largest cathedral in the US. It was pretty amazing.
The Empire State building was pretty cool too, the vistas were amazing and I had purchased the audio guide so it pointed out each side of the building very clearly and what I was seeing. A really impressive way to get a sense of the scope of the city.
I have to say that the only dissapointing piece was Times Square. Many friends have described it as an overwhelming but exciting impression of lights and people. I think that after Hong Kong, Times square doesn't really strike me that way so much.
Nontheless, a super cool trip. I'm having a brief break now before joining Heather post show for one last jaunt and then home tomorrow.

Us on Fastforward

This week:
2- days with no daycare, one with my provider ill, one with Adara ill
1- so far trips to the clinic to get Adara's ears flushed out. There may be another yet as she's still complaining that they hurt
2- grants written and ready to go in at work
3- trips to the city of Toronto licensing office to try and settle my works bloody public hall license. Kafkaesque in it's ridiculousness
1-house conditionally purchased (conditionally people, don't get your hopes up and don't get too attached yet, there's a road to travel)
1- trip planned to New York for me with my friend Heather next week. Thank the gods for airmiles and friends with hotel rooms. Perhaps unfortunately timed given the above mentioned conditional house purchase, but nontheless

= 1 exhausting and emotional week.

The tent

Built with love by daddy, it took up our entire couch and much of the living room. It stayed up for three days and was much beloved.

New Boots

I have been looking for new black boots since last March. I'm quite specific about black boots. They must be stylish and able to worn with jeans and dress pants, but also eminently wearable. I often find myself walking a half an hour or more in the city, either because I'm thinking about something or because the transit system has failed me and it's just easier to walk. My boots must have a heel, but not too much heel, must be fashionable but classic. I gave up last spring. Last week, I found these beauties. They are Josef Siebels which is a super comfortable, well supported brand of shoes that I've always wanted to buy but never been able to afford. They were onsale. For $85. Down from $285. Budget be damned these beauties were going home with me!


These are my old boots. I will still keep them and wear them because they're still functional and have a slightly different look then the new ones. Plus, I'm frugal. How frugal, you ask? These boots are nine years old. They are older then my child, house and marriage.
And you know what, I'm proud of that. I really despise our throw away society. Here's hoping that the new ones will give me nine years too. Meanwhile, I'm off to the cobbler to put my third pair of new soles on the old ones. Ta Ta.

Adara's quotes of the week

Adara: "What wrong with you mamma?"
Me: "Nothing honey I'm just frustrated and tired"
Adara: "Why don't you go to bed"
Me: sigh.

Adara singing quietly to herself this morning "I am a mystery, a little, messy mystery..."
Yes, yes baby girl, you are.

This week in snow

It's been pretty intense. Tonnes of snow and bitter cold winds. On the upside Adara loves the snow. Earlier this week it was a lovely -1 out and beautiful flakes were falling from the sky. Adara and Len played in the backyard while I made ratatouille for dinner. They came in after it was in the oven, a full hour later and then only because Len insisted. She also loves helping me to shovel and clear off the car in the morning. If only it wasn't so darn cold this week. You'll also notice that the every popular kitty hat/balaclava is riding again. Thanks Viv!

Kindergarten Registration

We registered Adara for kindergarten last week. Before the appointment she was very concerned that we "not leave her there". However once she got there she was more concerned with when she might get to play with all of the kids who were outside tugging each other around in sleds. She knew all her colours and shapes and could open the jars and lace the pictures up and do up the zippers, etc. It was quite fun to watch out of the corner of our eyes as the school representative put her through her paces. We realized how well she takes direction from everyone but us!

Oops!

Adara fell into the toilet last night. All the way in, just folded in two like a little jacknife and fell in butt first. She was trying to go on the potty like a big girl and didn't want my help at all.
After pulling her out and drying her off and drying her tears, I began to laugh helplessly. I couldn't help it, it was so funny to see her little feet stuck up in the air and the surprise on her face. Soon she was laughing too and then we just laid on the floor of the bathroom and laughed and laughed. I believe that this is one of those memories that will make me laugh despite myself forever. I will be on the subway some day, years from now, laughing about my blonde angel falling in the toilet.

Social Life

This winter Adara is developing her own social life and hobbies. She's enrolled in dance class on saturdays and gymnastics on sundays. Dance class she does on her own, which is the first time that I haven't had to be in the room for one of her classes. A definite change and it's interesting to try and gather from her after how the class went as parents aren't even allowed in the class. She is very proud of her galloping skills and will show them off, hands jauntily on her hips, to anyone who asks. Gymnastics, she's not so into, but loves the opportunity just to jump around.
For Len and I it's a move towards the world of a preschooler. Classes and events, teachers and schedules. It's nice to see her reacting so well to authority figures and we hope that this will be a good lead into her school years.
It does make me a bit teary, though!

New Years Day

We had an old school New Years Day here at the Fry/Stannard household: one like I used to have post university. In the morning I got up and played with the kiddo while Len and I prepped a big brunch for friends. Homefries, bacon, poached eggs, toast, champagne and orange juice and Heather brought fruit salad. Several friends and some kids came around 10, ate some food, drank some champagne and then the scrabble began. I handily defeated my two guests and husband. They sulkily (or not so sulkily) went home around 1pm, just as Lisa arrived. We redid the brunch thing for her (she had stayed out much later the night before then the rest of us), more champagne and orange juice (now fresh squeezed by Lisa herself) and another round of scrabble, at which I got hammered. Then, Lisa, Len and I took down the Christmas tree and I made up a lasagna for the family. Lasagna was consumed in front of the tv for a perfect end to a perfect, lazy New Years Day.