still on vacation

...where certain types of problems become non-trivial.

Evisceration, Evaluation and the End.

Now that the Summit is over, I can assess from a privileged vantage point what the media decided to say about the proceedings (and in particular, the protesters involved). Since I was actually here in the city and watching how things unfolded (from a distance, granted. I abhor confrontation) one might say I would be better off. Yet although I had the added benefit of being able to determine the mood of the city in person, most of my input came from "New Media" (live streaming of blogs, twitter and in some cases video). The democratization of communication may be my favorite part of the internet, and sometimes it is difficult to argue with compelling footage:


The sounds of chanting and helicopters has been replaced with concrete saws and trains. People in business suits, not face masks, walk the street.

Back to the status quo.

"vacation"

Live updates from the G20 summit time 10:16 p.m.

Most of the protesters sat down on Front St. E. facing Yonge St. around 10 p.m.

One protester on a megaphone shouted that the crowd will be staying there until someone from the G20 addresses them.

After a few minutes though, they headed to the Novotel on Esplanade where some protesters chanted in French.

Protesters say they're staying until a G20 leader comes down and hears their concerns. They are now marching south, towards the Toronto Star.

So....guess where I am staying? If you guessed next to the Novotel hotel, you would be right. The tear gas is wafting into the room. Awesomesauce.

Redheadredsongredheart

Masterpiece theatre

Well. Maybe not, but still funny.

new charges

This are the chicks were received more than a week ago now. They were day-old when we got them; tiny, huddled together and relatively quiet.

Now they are more aggressive with each other (no pecking, just chasing the runts around the cage and squawking loudly), bigger, and a bit uglier.
The current pets are "over" them already. While the cat spent a few days staring them down, the dog is the cutest.



This weekend was hot hot summer heat. I got a sunburn on my forehead, nose and upper ribcage from staying out all day on Saturday. Hubby and I were attending a fantastic "new beekeeper" workshop. We purchased our hive the day after the chicks arrived, I painted it and shipped it back to the bee provider so he could set a queen and "nucleus" of worker bees in the hive to get settled. Sometime in the next few days we need to go back and pick up our happy hive. The workshop was super informative, tons of fun, and really hands on. I was wearing a very light wool wrap to keep my arms and shoulders protected from the sun but no other bee-wear. I would say most of the new beekeepers were the same; jeans and tee-shirts were fine.

There are always a few in any group, though, that end up looking like this:

And even though one hive swarmed mid-day, with all of us standing around in amazement as tens of thousands of bees tried to find a new home, the bees deftly avoided hitting us or stinging us. The people kitted out in giant suits were the source of some ridicule and amusement because of their over-preparedness. But then again bugs don't bother me, and I'm just snarky like that.

I also got some seeds in the ground (finally!). Based on my plot plan from months ago (following some light reading on companion plotting & "wide row" gardening) this is what I came up with:


Hopefully, with a few more days of sunshine, we'll see some signs of life.

visitation rights

Ah, my good. I haven't updated in forever and a quick look at the calendar makes me think it will be awhile until I stop living my life and start blogging about it instead. Next weekend a couch surfer arrives who bought land down the street. He wants to check it out in person now that the snow has melted (he's from Florida!). Another friend will be down from Big City for a few days and drinking at the local pub should be in the cards. Then I'm flying out to Huge City in Province Waywayover to see lots of old pals (mostly from undergrad...I was talking to a new friend and re-iterated once again how GREAT university was because I met so many people just like me) for about a week. Leaving the job and the new employee and the chickens and the bees behind.

I might have to style my hair before leaving because, as I told me style-conscious friend/visitee: "I look like a street urchin". And for about six months I've been coveting this certain shade of red...as seen on Isla Fisher.

I don't know if I could pull it off but I'm mighty tempted to try. I just had another pang of lust as I scrolled through this year's AMAZING Lillith Fair line-up. Kate Nash, Fine Frenzy, Ingris Michealson. They are all begging me to join their blazing-headed ranks. So we'll see if I can scrounge up some salon money before leaving, along with some dough to pay for sweet sweet cosmetics like this, which I can only find in a gigantic city. Preeeetttttyyy. I'm sure the bees would agree.

kthbi

Oh seriously, as if falling concrete/no running water/piss poor ventilation wasn't awesome enough: this is a copy of the email from the building manager in response to one I sent asking fire procedures or emergency procedures since the alarms are duct-taped over in the hallway. Short summary: every person for themself.

Hi Natalie
The fire alarm is not activated at present as it is to be replaced along with new fire doors with magnetic closers controlled by the new alarm system. To answer your question , no point pulling the fire alarm. If you notice a fire leave the building and notify 911 from an external number. I'll take this oversight up with Facilities Management and advise the building occupants, thanks for your concern and the awareness.
Building Manager