Looking For Friends In All The Wrong Places

I noticed I had a new follower when I logged on this morning. Like everyone, I'm always excited to meet new people in the blogosphere and will almost always follow back. I'm not sure what criteria you use when deciding to join another blog. If it's about sheer numbers, then I guess any ol' blog will do.

Some people have very specific interests (like mountain-climbing or stock-car racing) that aren't of interest to me. Can't see myself randomly joining a bowling enthusiast's blog just for the sake of picking up a new Jewel either. Often though, it's more about the feeling or impression I immediately get when I first open their page, than the content. Humour is an important quality that jumps out at me right away. So is love of family, friendship, furry animals ---- and fully-clothed individuals...!! 

Imagine my surprise when I tracked back to my new follower's blog. I suppose my first indication should have been the content warning, but I plunged in anyways, silly me. My bad - and oh my eyes!!! Wasn't ready for that. X-rated for sure. And disgusting to boot.

While I don't consider myself a prude, I would like to think a quick glance at my content would be all the information someone with an x-rated blog trolling for new followers would need to determine we're not 'into' the same things. 

I'm not sure if it was the kid's books, those ridiculous knitted mitts from a few days ago or perhaps this pic of my first poppy of the season I posted way back in July, but something must have indicated we shared some common interests. Or maybe it's simply that this guy has a complete lack of common sense. Either way, I feel quite insulted. So thanks but no thanks, buddy. 

The (Big) Kid in Me

 

A teeny-tiny vignette from one of two terrariums I will eventually get around to showing you.

You may recall I made a total of four last summer and had profiled two at the time. Here & here.

I was recently given the Leibster award by Rachael over at Letters from a Mermaid. Although I do appreciate it, I'm not going to follow through on all the requirements of the award - instead I thought I'd just share one random secret about myself with you:

I'm still a big kid!

(and suspect many of you are as well :)

To get myself through the winter, I tend to read and watch a lot of movies. After sci-fi and fantasy, my favourite genre is the Children/Young Adults section. Whenever I find myself at Goodwill (which is quite often) a certain portion of my time there is spent perusing the kid's books.

         

I've either recently read, am reading or plan to read the above.

I've watched these movies in the past few weeks and each was a visual delight. 

I think it's important remain childlike (though not childish ;) throughout our lives. Children's literature and movies help me to stay in touch with the magical, whimsical and fantastical possibilities in life as seen through more innocent, wondering eyes. 

Ways To Enjoy Winter More, #3

I grew up in northern Ontario :)
This is what happens when cabin fever kicks in around mid-January!

Pet Peeves

If you're in North America, you've (likely) very easily deciphered what's on my 'To Do' list! The modern trend of shortening company titles is one of my favourite pet peeves. For some unknown reason, I find businesses getting all trendy with their names extremely lame and annoying - even though I am obviously lazy enough to fall in line myself!

I distinctly remember snorting in derision when The Royal Bank and Boston Pizza started referring to themselves as RBC and BP's in commercials. For a while there (a few years ago now) it seemed like there was a new name being rolled out every couple of weeks. I used to feel the same way about Kentucky Fried Chicken's change to KFC, but interestingly enough, it turns out they actually had a very 'good reason' for their abbreviation - and it wasn't to hide the fact that their food was fried - or to be more hip (as I'd always suspected :p) So they now get a pass!

The other day, I drove past one of my favourite Edmonton restaurants, the Sicilian Pasta Kitchen, and imagine my surprise disgust when I realized they'd rebranded to Sicilian PK or S.P.K. for short. WHAT!!! I'm certain they must have heard me howl as I went past. "I am so blogging this," I promised them, ha!

They went from this...

To this :( 

S.P.K. sounds like something I hope I don't find in my food...

Pet peeves are purely subjective and don't always make a lot of sense to other people. For example (and I apologize in advance if you have one) but don't get me started on vanity plates for vehicles!

What are your favourite pet peeves?

Nobody Told Me There'd Be Days Like These

"Strange days indeed -- most peculiar, mama"
~John Lennon

Seeing as today is 'Peculiar People Day,' I though I'd share a few pics from

Men's Fashion Week, which kicked off this past Monday in London!

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word peculiar as: 

Different from the usual or normal

Curious

Odd

Special

Eccentric

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Women's runway fashions have always been a bit peculiar and quite often unwearable ---

I think it's high time the designers started picking on the guys!

Ways to Enjoy Winter More, # 2

Debra's most amusing 'Crop Circle Fun!' on Thursday, reminded me that I've had this post in draft for a couple of weeks now. 

Complain if we must - but there's nothing quite like the sparkling beauty of a fresh snow. The above and following geometric marvels were created by artist Simon Beck, using of all things, a simple pair of snowshoes!

A friend emailed me these pics a few weeks ago and I was astounded by their intricacy.

Working up to 10 hours per day, each "Snow Quilt" is typically the size of three football fields;

and like their close cousin, the Crop Circle - they are best viewed from on high.

So fragile and fleeting... 

Simon first began crafting these wonders solely for the purpose of getting some exercise! His foot problems no longer allow him to run and he finds plodding about on level snow least painful.

Photographing them came next -- now he's considering buying a better camera. What an inspiration!

  

Happy New Year Everyone!

Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits. 

~Author Unknown

I have a confession to make: I'm a secret slob. If you saw me on the street, you'd likely think me well put together. My clothes would be clean and stylish, with no buttons missing or threads hanging. If you came over to my home and looked around, you'd find it very neat and well-ordered; a place for everything and everything in it's place. Same with my car. 

My purse however, is a completely different story... This is what my wallet looks like all year - and not because we just had Christmas. The only time I ever seem to empty it out is right before a trip.

Yesterday, while I was ruminating out loud about what my New Year's resolution should be (I also happened to be rummaging through my purse at the time), a voice from the peanut gallery (JJ Hubby) piped in with, "Why don't you start by cleaning your wallet..?" 

Truthfully, I'm not sure I would even want to resolve to keep my wallet clean - I kind of like it the way it is. If I need a coupon, an old receipt or list - I always know where to look. And granted, sometimes I have to search a little, but often I'm also rewarded by coming across something, maybe a stub from somewhere I've been and had forgotten all about. It's like an archeological dig!

I think instead of a resolution, I'm going to go with the 'Word of the Year' theme I've been seeing on so many blogs lately. A beacon of inspiration for 2013, so to speak. The word I've decided on is:

ACCEPTANCE

This year, I will try to be more accepting of myself: foibles, vices, weaknesses and all. Actually, so far, I'm finding this SO easy, I'm now wondering if maybe I should also work on accepting the weaknesses of those around me... No, on second thought, I think I'll save that one for 2014, lol!

Do you have a WOTY or Resolution made for 2013?