The Red Violin

It's back to the grind tomorrow and I attempted a last ditch effort to effectively utilize my leisure time today with a meaningful film.

Though I find most technology an annoyance and irrelavant, i.e. GPS, I have to agree that PVR is quite useful. Till date, I have not managed to watch the Red Violin from beginning to end. I've caught snippets of it while surfing through the online guide at the most inopportune moments. Today, with luck being in my favour, I discovered that said film was playing this afternoon on Showcase. I was, thus, able to secure a recording through PVR to watch later this evening.

I was finally able to follow the entire story uninterrupted. It did not disappoint though the entire Samuel Jackson portion was hardly inspiring. The film was neither riveting like the English Patient, nor grief inspiring like Schindler's List, nor satisfying like the Shawshank Redemption. Nevertheless, it kept you thinking long after the movie had ceased. Particularly interesting were the storylines in Italy, Viena & China. For a blood veneered violin to have survived centuries, passing from one hand to another, used and abused and finally restored is truly inspiring.

I personally believe, we leave something of ourselves behind in our possessions and there is a 'chi', if you can call it that, that flows from it to the person taking over that possession. Perhaps that is what gives antique furniture and instruments so much character. If they could tell stories, can you imagine what we could learn of our past, of ourselves and of our actions. Something to ponder when you find yourself browsing on Craig's List or Kijiji...

Can you cook?

My single girlfriends always complain that whenever they go out on a first or second date, the gentlemen's quest for discovery always include the irksome question of all time... Can you cook? Which begs the question... why do they ask?

I'm curious and am eager for enlightenment. Is it because they are hopeless in the kitchen? Has cooking for ONE lost its allure? Is it due to sheer laziness which enables a disdain for anything culinary? Was there a traumatic kitchen episode in childhood which lead to Culinary PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)? Are they afraid she's into the RAW diet? Does it question their machismo? Are they concerned about food poisoning? Are they sizing up their competition (the next Iron Chef)? Or are they simply curious?

Whatever the reason may be, single women everywhere vehemently abhor the question. So interesting, how three little words can wreck such psychological havoc.

Is the way to a man's heart really through his stomach? Gentlemen, if you are looking for Date #3 through #5, please refrain from this particular query, no matter how tempted you are and how innocent the question might seem. For a single woman, it conjures images of frigid winters, the depths of hell and an eternity of gluttony driven exploits featuring you. If lost for sensational conversation, stick with the weather & your health. 😊

Happy New Year - 2015

Welcome to 2015! Much like 2006, this is going to be my year of change.

Just to give you some perspective - in 2006,  I lost 47 lbs, started wearing contact lenses (abandoned the hideous spectacles that made me look like a female Urkle) and became assertive.

This year, I plan to change - physically, financially and professionally. Why? Because it's time. I'm stuck in a philosophical quicksand a.k.a proverbial RUT.

Physically: I'm 48 lbs overweight. Most of it, I gained unceremoniously post marriage (since 2010). My husband has managed to become 20 lbs lighter and fit over the last 4 years. I, however, seem to have consumed and doubled the pounds he discarded. At 35, that's a step away from my health committing suicide,  as per my beloved spouse.

Financially: I've incurred some necessary debt. We have a mortgage (we need to find a larger house with a basement & private garage in Toronto) and I had to succumb to purchasing a new car (Nyx). Brutus (my old Toyota Echo) tried to kill me on the 401 in July last year,  hence the necessity.

Professionally: I'm a Purchasing Professional for one of the largest builders in Southern Ontario. I'd like to think that my work environment is stable but one can never be too sure in these uncertain times. I want a professional license to increase my net worth.

As I said, a year of change.  How do I plan to do this? I'm not sure yet. The weight loss part is easy. The other 2 are remarkably more difficult.  Any suggestions are welcome! In the meantime, I need to purge my kitchen of sinful delights and tighten my purse strings.

For anyone reading me rambling - Happy 2015! May your new year be filled with health, wealth, bountiful happiness and success in all your goals.