Everyone And Their Dog

So... crikey! I used to complain that my family never came to see me here in Toronto (they're mostly in Windsor), but this week, they've ALL decided to come up! I've booked some time off work, and am looking forward to a nice five-day weekend. It's not going to be all that relaxing! Lots of fun will be had, though.. I'm sure of it! Here's what my upcoming schedule looks like:

- Friday night, wash and vacuum floors in apartment, meet up with James, Oriana and everyone for drinks somewhere (James just got word that he's getting a hasty hip surgery, probably in September; and Oriana's is back from school in London, England).
- Saturday, my brother Derek, his wife Karie and my nephew Evan arrive in the early afternoon. We're going to a Jays game, which starts at 1pm. My first baseball game ever!
- My best friend Stacey arrives! We'll have dinner with Derek, Karie, and Evan.
- Saturday night, Derek and Co. may or may not be staying at my place. We'll maybe go to a movie or something, since the forecast is calling for stormy weather (surprise, surprise).
- Sunday, say goodbye to Derek and Co., and then chill with Stacey aaaaaallll daaaaay loooooooong. Oh, and we might have to do some yard work, to prepare the back yard for the BBQ. I should also try and get all the peeps together Sunday night on a patio so Stacey can see everyone. Kylie will also be coming over to bake a birthday cake for Canada.
- Monday, the world is at my doorstep (I just booked this day off work). I should take a trip to the grocery store and the liquor at some point, so we can stock up for the BBQ.
- Monday afternoon/evening, say goodbye to the lovely Stace.
- Tuesday morning, decorate for the BBQ. BBQ is from 3-10pm. And then it's the fireworks!
- Wednesday, Dad and Shirl arrive early afternoon. We're going to see Dirty Dancing the musical that night. I'm totally looking forward to this!
- Thursday morning, say goodbye to Dad and Shirl, and then it's back to work. Meh!

Phew!

Labels: baseball game, blue jays, dirty dancing, family, photos, stacey, visit

posted by Unknown @ 11:51 a.m.

Awesome Website... Check It Out!

Labels: cool website, family, inspiration, randomness

posted by Unknown @ 1:16 p.m.

Photos Photos Photos!!!

I finally uploaded all the photos I took while I was home... there's also some pics from pre-drinking at my place before Beth's birthday. Check 'em out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravenswift/sets/72157600063868824/

The theme of the weekend was photographs, actually. I pulled out a box full of loose pictures, tonnes of them from when I was a baby, and before that even. So many cute ones of me!! LOL... it was awesome looking through them with the whole family around. It ended up being a nice activity for us all before the Easter pizza arrived!


And I really couldn't believe the weather. We didn't have snow in Windsor for Christmas, but we had some for Easter? How ridiculous is that!

Labels: "weekend update", family, history, photos, weather, windsor

posted by Unknown @ 2:40 p.m.

Back to Life, Back to unReality

I've returned to Toronto after spending the Easter weekend in Windsor, and I have to say, I'm glad to be back. I knew the trip home would be fairly unpleasant, and I was right.

First, the drive home on Thursday evening was completely insane. Traffic slowed down to around 40km/h around Burlington, for like 40 minutes. ARGH! Then, just south of London, I ran into a white-out... it was snowing so heavily, I could barely see 20' in front of the car. And the roads were covered in snow, so driving more than 60km/h would've been completely suicidal. And of course there was construction along the 401 in Essex County. It ended up taking me an hour longer than normal to get home.

Secondly, my sister-in-law's mother (or, my brother's mother-in-law) is very ill. Very. It's extremely sad. She reminds me a lot of my own mother, and treated me like a daughter after my mom passed away 8 years ago. She's a strong lady, but has been sick for a while. Unfortunately, I think she'll soon lose her battle with cancer, and we'll all lose an extremely passionate and dedicated woman... Alas...

I also visited with some other friends who lost a family member back in February. It's sad seeing people you love so sad. So. Sad.

I ran into a friend from high school (not even through Facebook), and she showed me a picture of her beautiful daughter. When I asked her if she was married, she told me she was, but that her husband died of a heart attack last year. He was 40. Frick, man.

So, yes, I knew this weekend would be a melancholy one. And it was. Except for the time I spent with Stacey, and my Dad and Shirl!

And I didn't get to bring my canoe back with, as was planned. I need to find someplace to store it that has access to the lake. Somewhere CHEAP.

Labels: "weekend update", brother, death, derek, family, frustration, rox, windsor

posted by Unknown @ 2:54 p.m.

Keepin' the Nostalgia Alive

Continuing my tribute to my mom and her family, I decided to try out my hand at some Dutch cuisine.

About a year ago (could've been longer, actually), I purchased this spice/herb mix from the House of Spice in Kensington called Bahmi Goreng (directly translated, this means "fried noodles"). I'd seen the package before- in my mom's kitchen cupboard! My gram and my mom (and probably both of my aunts) make this dish, and just the thought of it makes my mouth water. It's a great Carribean/Dutch/Indonesian noodle dish with pork, onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, etc. So good!

The only problem with the spice mix? The cooking instructions were written in Dutch. I tried an online translator, but typing out those extremely long Dutch words with too many vowels took so long- and the translation was pretty confusing.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago. There's a new employee here in eBay named Michelle, who is VERY Dutch (you just have to look at her white blond hair and her rosy cheeks!) I asked her if she spoke the language, and she said that yes, she could understand it. I thought of the Bahmi spice mix, and asked her if she could translate the package for me. Well, she did me one better- she took it home and had her mom translate it, who also wrote down her own Bahmi recipe for me. On Sunday, I finally got around the making it. It was SO easy. I couldn't believe it.

And although I didn't follow either recipe exactly, it ended up tasting wonderful. The spices brought back memories of my grandparent's old place in Lambeth (near London, ON), of family gatherings, of other great dishes my gram makes (her trifle is to DIE for), of my dear dear grandpa, and of the happier times with my mom. I'll have to go and buy more of this Bahmi Goreng spice mix stuff- I wonder if I can get it anywhere else?

Labels: cooking, dutch, family, mom

posted by Unknown @ 1:38 p.m.

Birthday Wishes and Beyond

Spring is officially here... and this time of year, I always think of my mom more than usual. Today would've been her 54th birthday.

Stef was saying how she'd never seen a pic of my mom, and I got to thinking- I hadn't seen one in a while either... so I dug up a photo. I kinda feel weird posting it online- after all, she didn't even get to know what a blog was, but I think a little tribute on Blurty Blurt Blurt will be fine.



This is my mom, Maria, and my brother Derek like, 15 years ago. One of three photos I have here in Toronto of my mom.

Labels: brother, derek, family, inspiration, mom

posted by Unknown @ 10:47 p.m.

Home from the Holidays!

I had a great time in Windsor for Christmas, with a couple minor speed bumps. The usual good cheer towards men, but no one said anything about good cheer towards ex-friends and older brothers!

There was this girl I knew in high school- Paula- and we were best of friends in grade eleven. After an argument about the moral ineptitude of making fun of a guy wearing a turban, she decided not to be my friend anymore. It was harsh, but it was 13 years ago. I saw her at Stacey and Chris' party on the 23rd, and she actually went out of her way to avoid me. Funny, eh? Whatev.

My brother was just being himself. And since I've been extra sensitive this winter, I took his criticisms hard and let it bring me down. I have to stop allowing that to happen. Whatev.

Anyways- I took some pics during my time at home... here's a link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravenswift/sets/72157594450192366/

Labels: christmas, family, photos, windsor

posted by Unknown @ 12:48 p.m.

Home for the Holidays!

I can't wait!!! Not that I don't love Toronto. But when I go home... it's UBER relaxing. And I don't use the word "uber" lightly.

When I go home, I don't have to worry about waking up to an alarm.
I don't have to deal with the TTC or the irate customers at work.
I don't have to think about what I'm going to eat for my next meal (or if I have to cook it).
I can watch satellite television, and not the crappy rabbit-ear reception I get here.
I can have a bath in their jacuzzi style tub, and not get attacked by my cheap shower curtain that insists on sticking to my legs when I turn the water on.
I can walk out the front door of my dad's house and not be harassed by people asking for money.
When I look out the window, I see the lush yard full of flowers my step-mom keeps, and not the scummy apartment building across from me on Tyndall Ave.
I can see my family, who I know misses me a lot.
I can visit my friends from high school, and catch up on the good old times.

Ahhhh... I can't wait. But like I said, I also love Toronto. It's just a different kind of love!

Labels: christmas, family, windsor

posted by Unknown @ 12:29 p.m.