1984

I have just finished reading another book.

The title is 1984 by George Orwell. It's considered to be a classic novel.

It starts out very odd-like but it gives you a sense of how the rest of the book is going to be. I had never read it in school like some people, but I was intrigued to see what made it a classic.

The first sentence is:

"The clock strikes thirteen..."

See, all these people live in a 24-hour world where there is no 8am and 8pm but rather an 8 hour and 20 hour.

They are forced to live with these strict rules and are always told that Big Brother is watching them. There is even mention of the "Thought Police" where even if you think something different of the rules and have your own opinion, you can go to jail and "vanish". Vanishing is where you die, but Big Brother makes it so that you didn't even exist by erasing you from every record the town has.

It would be pretty scary to live in something like that where you're constantly being watched and every opinion you form can get you in trouble. It's as if you're supposed to live being robot-like not having any feelings or thoughts and just to do what you're told.

I don't think I would like to live as they did. Most of my days are spent with my thoughts on many different things.

It was an okay book to read, some parts were not so exciting (like when Winston was reading the rule book word-for-word), but it was an overall good storyline.

My next book is...... Life of Pi

Christmas Ornaments

So we headed to the Rideau Centre today to attempt some Christmas shopping (with my lack of Christmas Spirit), and finally came up with some ideas for some people, but I still feel like we're at square one with buying presents.

We ended up buying all the parts for Will's parents - so that's 2 people down, so many more to go. We finally picked up some Christmas cards and bought another Christmas tree ornament.

Will & I have decided to start collecting Christmas ornaments. We have only bought 2 (we don't want to go on a spree - as we want this to be throughout the years) so far, but we also want them to be unique.

The two that we have are both the ball-shaped ornament, one is clear with frosted Christmas trees, the other is yellow with black velvet stripes. We don't want anything to be too extravagant or odd looking, but classic and funky looking of different shapes and sizes (just not too big).

We also want a story that goes along with the ornament - one we picked up in Toronto at the AGO gift shop (our first trip together) another at a department store (while shopping for Christmas gifts downtown)

Christmas

I must say that usually by the time Santa Claus parade comes around, it gets me in the mood for Christmas shopping and such, but this year it wasn't the case.

We headed downtown to see the parade on Laurier and it was quite interesting (and cold). A bunch of dancers, marching bands, radio/tv celebrities, our new mayor, Spartacat, and of course SANTA.

We then headed to the Rideau Centre and it was absolute craziness. I'm talking about people everywhere in stores, out in the hallways walking around and we could barely find a seat in the food court.

I usually don't get in the mood for Christmas until the first snowfall appears (and it has to stay on the ground) - - which seems to be arriving late this year. All we have been getting is rain. Everyone at work thinks I am crazy to say that I would rather snow than rain.

There are some people I know that are pretty much finished their Christmas shopping. I have bought one present for Will's Dad, and the rest I am completely stumped about.

There are still 35 days until Christmas.

I don't mind the craziness in malls as long as I know what it is that I am there to get. If I'm just walking around figuring stuff out, then I end up getting more frustrated with myself.

So Christmas shopping, and wrapping, and decorating - - - I won't be doing for awhile, even though the people I live with have been listening to Christmas music since November 1st!! Crazy!!

Toronto

So, we survived our weekend in Toronto and are completely exhausted.

I cannot wait until the weekend when I will actually have time to sleep in and relax.

Friday
We headed out around 5:30pm after both of us finished work for the day and drove the long haul to Toronto. I drove the first leg, and Will drove the rest, as I hate driving in dowtown Toronto no matter what time it is!! We had just found our exit off the Gardiner Expressway (aka Don Valley Parkway - but past the CN Tower, Air Canada Centre, & Rogers Centre) and traffic practically came to a complete stop. We were all excited to find the exit and then all disappointed to see that it took 15 minutes to get to the exit. We arrived at my aunt's house after we had to walk up to a few houses to see the numbers. It was then we also discovered that her doorbell doesn't work, and I was worried that no one was home. Lucky for me, they were home and all ready for us!! We were a little tired from the drive, so we just chatted for a bit and then headed off to bed (after making somewhat of a plan for the weekend) to be prepared for the busy time ahead of us.

Saturday
We woke up and headed for breakfast at Easy which is right down the street from her house and then got ourselves a TTC daypass so we could venture around town by any form of transportation (even though it seemed like we walked more than anything else). They took us to the AGO - Art Gallery of Ontario - and it was pretty cool!! There weren't a whole lot of exhibitions open, but we saw plaster sculptures and paintings. We also picked up a little clear glass Christmas ornament in the gift shop as we are starting a collection together. After the AGO Will & I headed on the subway (Will was very excited for his first subway ride) and headed towards the Hockey Hall of Fame. When we arrived, there was a huge lineup as it was the hall-of-famers induction weekend and there were autograph signings, but Will really wanted to go, and he absolutely LOVED it!! He was like a kid in a candy store. We never ended up taking a picture with the Stanley Cup as they were cleaning up and we would've had to wait even longer after we had seen everything, so we decided to come back some other time (our next trip to Toronto, perhaps?) and get our chance with it next time. After the HHOF came the ROM - Royal Ontario Museum. We were doing all the indoor stuff as it was raining all day (including as we were travelling between places). At the ROM they had this exhibition of Italian Arts & Design and there was a lot of furniture that looked really funky!! It was so much fun, I wanted to take all the furniture home!! We also visited the Greek and African rooms before the museum closed. We picked up a souvenir at the gift shop as well, Venecian glass necklace. We started walking down Bloor street as it was night time and after realizing we were lost, popped back on a subway back into town and stopped in a cafe to figure out what was going on for dinner plans. We attempted to get into this Italian place, but there was too much of wait, so we headed down the street to a Korean restaurant and it was really good!! I was so exhausted, so we decided to call it a night and headed home (where apparently I was falling asleep on the chair).

Sunday
We headed for breakfast at The Butler's Pantry and had delicious French Toast with fresh fruit. We headed through Yorkville and checked out the chic savvy stores. It was a gorgeous day!! We headed up to the lounge of the Hyatt and got an amazing view of the city (including the CN tower and others). We were sent on our way to visit the Bata Shoe Museum which absolutely amazing and Will actually admitted that he enjoyed it!!! We headed for Queen Street to go shopping at the cute little stores, but didn't even make it past Spadina (which apparently where all the good stores are) and stopped for some lunch in a cafe called Lettieri. We would've done more shopping but on Sundays the stores close early and so we headed towards the CN Tower (as we wanted a night view). We made our way up (after getting security cleared - - the oddest thing ever) We got our picture taken - which we thought was for security purposes, but it ended up being so that you could buy the picture afterwards. We had to stand in this security cubicle where we got sprayed with air (still don't know why) which freaked me out. We went up the elevator and had our ears pop. We went outside at the top (after much coercion for Will to go out) and it was absolutely gorgeous!! All the lights (except for where there was water) would stream so far. We could see everything!! I wasn't so convinced about the glass floors, it looked cool, but I wouldn't walk on it at all. Will completely made fun of me. Apparently there is enough concrete in the CN tower to build a sidewalk from Toronto to Kingston. We went into the cafe and had a drink at the window table. It was really cool!! We headed down the elevator (with more ear-popping) and met my aunt's fiance for dinner at the Italian place we attempted to get into the other night. There was still a lineup, but we only had to wait like 10 minutes. It was a fantastic restaurant with the best, authentic Italian food. We headed home (after another exhausting day) and met up with my aunt (who had to work) and popped open the bubbly, until apparently again I was falling asleep in the chair. I also got to look at some photos of my family (great-grandfather, grandparents, aunts, my dad, etc...) and was so intrigued by the stories that my aunt would tell. I love family stories!!

Monday
We headed for breakfast at Mitzi's and the plan was to head for the rest of Queen St that we missed the other day for more shopping. We were actually taken down to the boardwalk (by the water) and checked out the outside of the Palais Royale which sits right on the water. We decided to walk a bit down the boardwalk and then head to Queen St. We walked and saw this gorgeous outdoor park (which is only open in the summer) with an outdoor pool. It's so classic and gorgeous!! We walked pretty far down and decided to postpone Queen until our next trip as we didn't want to be too worn out for the rest of the week and for the drive home. It was a nice drive home, and only a little bit of rain at the end. Steph even made us dinner (if you say ordering pizza is making dinner) for when we got home and we just collapsed and passed out.

A fantastic weekend and the house looks great!!!!!

Thoughts...

... I'm heading to Toronto this weekend to visit my aunt's new Victorian house and Will's sister..... We're also heading to a few touristy spots (Hockey Hall of Fame, CN Tower, Eaton Centre, Little Italy, etc...)

... I love my new responsibilities at work, and it's hard to think that I won't be there forever (seen as how the woman I'm replacing who had brain surgery plans to be back just after Christmas)

... I have eaten too much Halloween candy seen as how we only got 4 kids (or 2 doorbells - - however you look at it) and we bought lots of candy - - - giving the ones we didn't like to Jenn & Scott, and then we ended up buying a box of 70 Hershey mixed chocolate bars on sale. All this candy is starting to make me sick!!

... I cannot wait to see all the election campaign signs are gone off all the grass!!! I haven't really been following the campaigns and I'm not exactly sure where I stand anyway... so to me, it doesn't really matter who begins the next mayor

... I can't hardly wait for the snow to come and to stay!!! It's when there's actual snow on the ground that I get into the Christmas spirit (Scott.... I need your Christmas list other than that spice rack!!) and can finally start listening to my Christmas CDs that I only pull out for less than 2 months a year

... My favourite shows this season are (brace yourself)... Gilmore Girls, Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, The Amazing Race (go Cho brothers!!!), America's Next Top Model (despite everyone hating her, Melrose is going to win), & CSI

... I know that's a lot of TV to watch, but it's pure obssession!!! Atleast The Amazing Race and America's Next Top Model will be over soon so that I can have more time to be productive with something else other than TV/couch

Snow!

So, I guess today was the first official day of snow as it is actually staying on the ground today!!!

I love snow, I love walking in snow, seeing it fall, everything about snow is cool.

The one thing I don't like when it snows..... is driving!

I was on the way home today on the bus and the next thing I know the bus brakes so hard everyone is falling over each other. I see a car all smashed up next to us with the airbags bursted open. I am not sure who hit who, but that doesn't really matter. The woman who was driving was not severely hurt, just injured from the airbag and the shock. She was taken away from the accident in an ambulance.

I had to wait another 20 minutes for the next bus in the snowy cold, but compared to what the woman went through, I didn't mind. All I wanted to do was to get home. But in order to do that I had to get on 2 more busses and walk along busy streets for 10 minutes.

I don't know what it is with people on the first day of snow. But that is the day where there are the most accidents on the roads because people are just not aware of how to drive when there is moisture on the road.