Signs of Spring in March

One thing I always try to 'member is what was it like a year ago and inevitably the memory is too fuzzy. This year a note that a very mild winter with really only one snowfall to mention has basically ended. (Check later posts for the unexpected blizzard that will come from this post.)  I am starting to get back into my walking around the city again and on Sunday's lovely walk I saw several signs of spring. The most jarring one was the number of hipsters out on Queen St. West on a sunny Sunday - must remember not to walk there again, just put me on edge. Neat sign, it was not just all bicycles out but motorcycles roaring around.  And the best sign, crocus blooms in many many front gardens that I passed. Won't be long now until my favourite lily of the valley are up and filling the air with their delicate fragrance. Ahhhh . . ..

Recently Read Books

I've been doing a whole lot of reading lately and I am never going to 'member all the names. I guess I have a bit of a wide taste in readings.

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
The Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde
The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories by Dr. Seuss
Irma Voth by Miriam Toews
Stroll: Psychogreographic Walking Tours of Toronto by Shawn Micallef
Mr. Shakespeare's Bastard by Richard B. Wright
A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena De Blasi
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Soul Mining by Daniel Lanois
Exit the Actress by Priya Parmar
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by  Michael Chabon

It's been a good run.

Yoga with Dinosaurs

My first time in the ROM since the renovation. A surreal experience. Thank you to Linda Malone of Iam Yoga for telling me about this amazing chance to get back on the Yoga train.

This is what I was practicing in front of. Talk about inspiring. 350 people all together with no judgement (at least I didn't feel any) sharing each others energy.

Pleasant Events

Dinner at Barque and seeing the barman's eyes rise when I order a Maker's Mark with dessert (pecan pie and marshmallow ice cream- yes that is as good as it sounds)

Great night at the Mariinsky Orchestra. During the Finale of Firebird it's that kind of music that I can't identify any specific emotions. I'm glad that I was there and I definitely chose the right seats for my subscription. Over on the side so that I could see his face.

Went to Moss Park Armoury to check out the Pipe band. Of course I managed to choose a night that they weren't practicing but no matter. I went I was proud of myself for actually getting there. Now I just have to go again.

Another historical day

Muammar Gaddafi has been captured and killed in Libya on the 20th. This was not the shock that Bin Laden was with a full scale war going on with him and he has still been very present, not in hiding like Bin Laden. Again I feel torn about talking about someone who is dead. But this has been a bogey man in the news for as long as I can remember paying attention to the news. I was afraid of him as a child so I am glad he is no longer in power. I am not glad he is dead. I can't be.