Got an ereader already

After doing all my research and deciding to get a Nook Simple Touch, I had assumed that it would be several months before getting one since I wanted to go to a store and handle one in person and that wouldn’t be happening until the next time I was in Detroit. But over the last week it’s become apparent that it would be better to get a device with more Canadian support.

Sarah let me play with her Kobo on the weekend and it was a very nice machine. So, today we went to Chapters and picked up a couple of Kobo Touch ereaders: one for me and Dean to share, and one for my mother-in-law. It’ll work out better if we both have the same one, since I can show her how to do things with mine and she can follow along with hers. Let me just say that I am thrilled that I don’t have to read books on my phone anymore!

I’ve spent the last few days combing the internet for all of the Portuguese romance novels I could find that I thought Mãe would like. Mostly Nora Roberts and Danielle Steel, since that’s what she usually gets from Portugal. We’ll have a chat about that since there’s got to be other authors she’d like.

Tomorrow is going to be really interesting, since I’m not sure what she’s going to think about the whole thing. Aside from the hurdle of learning to use a new piece of technology, going from a dozen or so books to choose from to over 200 might be a problem. But since I don’t know if she’s read books other than those in the house, I grabbed it all so she can pick and choose which ones to keep.

I am tired and it is glorious!

Thanks to no longer being on combination birth control pills, I’ve spent the last 3 weeks with unceasing insomnia because the lack of estrogen caused withdrawal symptoms. Yesterday I got tired around 11pm and even though I stayed up until 1am researching ultrabooks I slept for 6 straight hours and it was amazing. I was so productive today simply because I had the energy to get up and do things. I ran a lot of errands during the day and then spent the evening cleaning out and organizing the craft/computer/tv room.

The best part is I am tired again. Two days in a row! I am cherishing this feeling, since it’s been so scarce of late.

And now, to bed!

Books Read in 2012

Title Author Date Started Date Finished Format
Then We Came To The End Joshua Ferris January 16 January 28 ePub
A Game of Thrones George R. R. Martin January 24 June 12 Paperback/ePub
Catching Fire Suzanne Collins January 28 January 30 ePub
Mockingjay Suzanne Collins January 30 January 30 ePub
Matched Ally Condie February 8 February 23 Hardcover/ePub
Keeping the Moon Sarah Dessen February 9 February 12 ePub
Running the Books Avi Steinberg February 10 February 28 ePub
Crossed Ally Condie February 23 February 27 Hardcover/ePub
The Gentleman of the Rings J.R.R. Tolkien February 28 In Progress Paperback/ePub
Ready Player One Ernest Cline February 29 March 6 ePub
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Alan Bradley March 9 In Progress Audio/ePub
The Gift of Fear Gavin de Becker March 9 March 22 ePub
As I Wake Elizabeth Scott March 22 March 23 ePub
The Secret Lives of Hoarders Matt Paxton March 23 March 29 ePub
The Happiness Project Gretchen Rubin March 29 In Progress ePub
The Thief Megan Whalen Turner April 4 April 7 ePub
Black Heart Holly Black April 4 April 5 ePub
The Queen of Attolia Megan Whalen Turner April 7 April 9 ePub
The King of Attolia Megan Whalen Turner April 9 April 11 ePub
A Conspiracy of Kings Megan Whalen Turner April 11 April 13 ePub
Soulless Gail Carriger April 13 April 16 ePub
Changeless Gail Carriger April 16 April 18 ePub
Blameless Gail Carriger April 18 April 19 ePub
Heartless Gail Carriger April 19 April 20 ePub
Timeless Gail Carriger April 20 April 23 ePub
A Clash of Kings George R. R. Martin June 12 June 24 ePub
A Storm of Swords George R. R. Martin June 24 June 30 ePub
A Feast for Crows George R. R. Martin June 30 July 9 ePub
A Dance with Dragons George R. R. Martin July 9 August 13 ePub
Reached Ally Condie December 13 December 15 Hardcover

I finally caved

My friends are always saying they’re amazed I don’t buy up every new piece of tech at the first opportunity. I try to explain: there’s no point buying it if I’m not going to use it enough to justify the cost. It’s enough for me to know what it is and how it works. I’ve been refusing a smartphone for years on those grounds, and yet I ended up with one anyway.

In December me and Dean (mostly Dean) were researching BlackBerry phones and plans since his sister wanted to pay less for the phones her family had and maybe get new ones. It turned out there were some really nice deals around for Christmas, so we started debating the possibility of getting one for ourselves. Really, it came down to how much we’d use BBM, since that was the only thing that our friends used that our old phones couldn’t do.

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This is why I hate rain

Especially when it’s windy.

In the 15 minutes I was outside waiting for the bus, my pants, socks, and shoes got completely drenched. The rest of me wasn’t much drier, but was slightly protected thanks to my umbrella.

The entire time I was thinking if genies existed, I’d wish for dry clothes, some Wellington boots, and a proper raincoat.

Goodbye, my friend

Gingie the guinea pig

He seemed to have a happy life; got plenty of attention and time to roam outside (and carrots, yummy, delicious carrots). He died doing one of his favourite things: sleeping outside in the shade of the plum tree.

I’m going to miss your quirks little guy, and your funny faces. Rest in peace.

Father’s Day

My sister was supposed to come up here a couple of weekends ago so we could have some hang out time. That didn’t work out, so instead I went down there last weekend and us kids took my dad to a demolition derby in Leamington. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I saw him that happy. He looked like a kid again. It was totally worth it. Plus afterwards we got him some chicken wings (his favourite) and had some time to just be together. Not the most eventful weekend, but definitely a good one.

No pictures because we were too mesmerized by the car-smashing to take any.

Getting Back in the Swing

I’ve been monogramming some bath sheets as a wedding present for some friends of mine since last summer. This has been an ongoing saga of mishaps and learning experiences, but I am finally making some real progress so I’m sharing the the hope that it will save others some trouble with similar projects.

The original plan was to have the embroidery completed by the end of August 2010 since the wedding was Labour Day weekend. Even with the best of intentions and making some major progress over the summer, the towels were not finished in time for the wedding.

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Immune System Fail

The last couple of weeks I could feel some sort of illness lurking about trying to find its way in. This was not a surprise, as various colds were making their way through the library staff. Besides working directly with 3 people who were sick, I was also performing updates on every public library computer in the city. It was only a matter of time before the germs won.

At first it seemed like a mild cold, but progressed to an ear infection which I cured with the aid of an ear syringe and some drops. All seemed fine. I was feeling great for the first time in weeks and could get back to being productive. The next day it hit me. Over the course of a few hours I felt progressively worse. By the next morning it was obvious that I’d caught the flu. Bugger.

The reason it’s bothering me enough to blog about is because my parents are visiting this weekend for the first time in 8 years. If I can’t shake this in the next 24 hours the weekend is going to be, “Hi guys, so glad you could come! Don’t come near me or touch anything I’ve touched until I wash it, or you’ll get sick….No, I can’t do that with you. I’m too tired and sore….Let’s not go there, there’ll be too many people and I don’t want to infect everyone.” Sounds fun, right?

Back to Life

Or at least, life as it’s been for me for the last couple of years. I spend my time at home, mostly: applying for jobs; reading books that get me ruminating on one thing or another; reading about computers and design on the internet; dealing with whatever comes through my inbox; knitting, spinning, or embroidering depending on the project. My days are various combinations of all of these activities.

The preceding three months, however, were a deviation from what has come to be my normal routine. I was hired on contract to be an intern in the IT department of the local library. This meant that my job was to support the IT staff and do whatever needed doing, and hopefully learn something along the way. The work ranged from simple software and hardware upgrades all the way up to a major marketing project. I did end up learning some things here and there about computers, but mostly I made new friends and learned a lot more about my library.