*SIGH*I love Montréal, but I'd much rather be still in Paris...
I'll be recapping all about our trip in the coming days.. I might even share one or two of the 6000+ photos... we'll see...
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
en bref...
...just a quick update...
Nantes:
seafood
champagne
Chateau du Duc de Bretange
LU factory
Jules Vernes birthplace
Pornic:
a quaint seaside paradise... ate TOO much seafood
Rennes:
champagne
walking tour...
champagne
food
walking tour
St Malo:
walking tour
food
walking
walking
walking
... and now over 4000+ pictures...
...tomorrow, Mont St Michel
gros bisous
Nantes:
seafood
champagne
Chateau du Duc de Bretange
LU factory
Jules Vernes birthplace
Pornic:
a quaint seaside paradise... ate TOO much seafood
Rennes:
champagne
walking tour...
champagne
food
walking tour
St Malo:
walking tour
food
walking
walking
walking
... and now over 4000+ pictures...
...tomorrow, Mont St Michel
gros bisous
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Can't Blog now, too busy in Paris...
Le Grande Palais,
Le Petit Palais,
Champs Elysee,
Arc de Triumphe,
Place de la Concorde,
Place des Voges,
Place Vendome,
La Bastille,
Opera Garnier,
La Tour Eiffel,
La Seine,
Notre Dame,
Montmartre,
Sacre Coeur,
Moulin Rouge,
La Louvre,
Hotel de Ville,
Le Marais,
Pont Alexandre III,
Le Ritz,
Versailles...
... and more that I'm forgetting... and more to come... off to Nantes in the AM...
Le Petit Palais,
Champs Elysee,
Arc de Triumphe,
Place de la Concorde,
Place des Voges,
Place Vendome,
La Bastille,
Opera Garnier,
La Tour Eiffel,
La Seine,
Notre Dame,
Montmartre,
Sacre Coeur,
Moulin Rouge,
La Louvre,
Hotel de Ville,
Le Marais,
Pont Alexandre III,
Le Ritz,
Versailles...
... and more that I'm forgetting... and more to come... off to Nantes in the AM...
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Another myth broken...
Whoever said that the waiters in France are rude, was full of merde...
18 hours to go...
18 hours to go...
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
What to do when in Paris
Touchdown!
Now we just have to figure out some things to do while in Paris...
Friday, June 13, 2008
I'm Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeady!
Well I'm Powdered, Puffed and Packed!
How do I look?
(special thanks to Dame Mitzi for the pick. I don't know where she found it, but heart her most deeply for it!)
How do I look?
(special thanks to Dame Mitzi for the pick. I don't know where she found it, but heart her most deeply for it!)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
a pox on me... or not...
A pox damn you, you muddy rascal, is that all the comfort you give me?
~William Shakespeare
Henry IV Part 2, 2. 4
SO I went back to see the Doc today, get the results from my blood tests last month. Seems all is ok, some of my meds changed. Some up, some down...
What not only surprised both the good Doctor and myself, and has caused him to have to consult with a specialist is the fact that while I was just re-vaccinated for the Chicken Pox back in December of 2005 and January 2006, all the antibodies have disappeared!
It was not much of a surprise when none showed in my blood back in mid 2005, as my last inoculation was when I was but a wee young thing... and since I never contracted, even a mild case, he ordered the course for me then. Both on the Autumn of 2006 and summer of 2007 I showed anti-bodies, but *POOF* just a little over two years later and I'm pox-anti-bodies-less...
And I do not relish having to have the shots again, because despite what you might think, they hurt like effing hell!
Like Edina's body absorbing mud, mine devours the Chicken Pox Vaccine...
What's a Kitty to do?
~William Shakespeare
Henry IV Part 2, 2. 4
SO I went back to see the Doc today, get the results from my blood tests last month. Seems all is ok, some of my meds changed. Some up, some down...
What not only surprised both the good Doctor and myself, and has caused him to have to consult with a specialist is the fact that while I was just re-vaccinated for the Chicken Pox back in December of 2005 and January 2006, all the antibodies have disappeared!
It was not much of a surprise when none showed in my blood back in mid 2005, as my last inoculation was when I was but a wee young thing... and since I never contracted, even a mild case, he ordered the course for me then. Both on the Autumn of 2006 and summer of 2007 I showed anti-bodies, but *POOF* just a little over two years later and I'm pox-anti-bodies-less...
And I do not relish having to have the shots again, because despite what you might think, they hurt like effing hell!
Like Edina's body absorbing mud, mine devours the Chicken Pox Vaccine...
What's a Kitty to do?
Bitter Sweet.
So over the weekend, the company I work for moved offices. Not a great distance really if I had a car and drove to work, but because I take the Metro and a bus it's actually doubled my commute from 8 metro stops to 19! FUN...
...but whatever, that just gives me more time to read a book on the metro.
What's got me, both at once excited and worried is the fact that my favourite fast-food (say what you want about it, I effing love the stuff!) McDonalds is only a 3 minute walk away.
...but whatever, that just gives me more time to read a book on the metro.
What's got me, both at once excited and worried is the fact that my favourite fast-food (say what you want about it, I effing love the stuff!) McDonalds is only a 3 minute walk away.
So YAY for my tum-tum and BOO for my ass (in more ways than one!)
Sunday, June 8, 2008
HALLELUJAH!
Praise Jebus!
Out of the desparation of two men cooking in the heat, even though the damn thing would not work yesterday... Didier tried the AC this morning and guess what?! It worked!!!!!!!
...I'll still take anouther Mint Julep though ...
Out of the desparation of two men cooking in the heat, even though the damn thing would not work yesterday... Didier tried the AC this morning and guess what?! It worked!!!!!!!
...I'll still take anouther Mint Julep though ...
Gone with the Heat
Our fucking Air Conditioning is on the fritz.
At midnight, outside it's 24.5'C with a humidex of 30'C
INSIDE it's 26.4'C with, I'm guessing a humidex of 66.6'C
I swear it's hotter than the burning of Atlanta...
At midnight, outside it's 24.5'C with a humidex of 30'C
INSIDE it's 26.4'C with, I'm guessing a humidex of 66.6'C
I swear it's hotter than the burning of Atlanta...
...which makes feel I must say...
Mammy, Mammy, hand me my mint julep, I'm burning up.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Yogurt, Cheese and Me.
What do these three things have in common?
Culture.
That's what!
We went to see Opéra de Montréal's production of Madame Butterfly [Under the Stars] tonight. It was preformed at Place-des-Arts and broadcast outside as well on a big screen. Since the weather was nice we took in the show, along with what seemed like 1/2 of Montréal!!!
Culture.
That's what!
We went to see Opéra de Montréal's production of Madame Butterfly [Under the Stars] tonight. It was preformed at Place-des-Arts and broadcast outside as well on a big screen. Since the weather was nice we took in the show, along with what seemed like 1/2 of Montréal!!!
Unfortunately 3 hours standing in one place on concrete, in the heat is not much fun in and of itself, and so I switched from standing to sitting to standing to sitting... and I'd just like to point out now that sitting on concrete is not much fun either, which is why I shall henceforth call this Opera.. 'Mydamn Buttistired' heh!
Still, I'm all culturefied at the moment...
I think I shall retire to the lounge for a lager...
Friday, June 6, 2008
Memes a poppin!
OK maybe THIS is the Meme Shirl tagged me on (as per his comment on my Talkin' Shit post) I thought it was the Book Quote one, at least til I went over and took a browsie brow at Champagne for the Brain. And lo, what to my wandering eyes should appear? (other then nearly naked hawt man flesh?) but another Meme that I was tagged on. So what the hell. In for a penny, in for a pound... and lord knows I could spare a pound...
The Flickr Meme.
1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
2. Using only the first page of results, pick one image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Big Huge Lab’s Mosaic Maker to create a mosaic of the picture answers.
4. Tag as many people as you like. (Shirl added this one. and I like it, so I'm gonna tag 9 peeps)
The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favourite food? right now?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favourite colour?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. What is your favourite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favourite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. What is one word that describes you?
12. What is your flickr name?
So here's my Flickr Meme Mosaic:
The Flickr Meme.
1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
2. Using only the first page of results, pick one image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Big Huge Lab’s Mosaic Maker to create a mosaic of the picture answers.
4. Tag as many people as you like. (Shirl added this one. and I like it, so I'm gonna tag 9 peeps)
The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favourite food? right now?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favourite colour?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. What is your favourite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favourite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. What is one word that describes you?
12. What is your flickr name?
So here's my Flickr Meme Mosaic:
01- Shawn
02- Lobster
03- Cole Harbour High
04- Green
05- Colin Farrel
06- Mojito
07- Prince Edward Island
08- Melon and Porto
09- Ceramics Artist
10- Didier
11- Dreamer
12- Misster-Kitty
- - - - -
So no, the down and dirty... I tag:
N@
Corn
Ma
NGB
Maria
TB
JB
John
and
Jerome
...so get busy y'all!
...and again...
Thanks Jerome...
OK, seriously... y'all need to be more creative than tagging people that have already been tagged or tagged you... sheesh!
But since I've been reading lots lately, no worries...
- - - - -
From Sex and the Queen. Nine Hundred Years of Vile Kings, Virile Lovers , and Passionate Politics.
By Eleanor Herman:
After her interrogation, Eleonore had been imprisoned in solitary confinement in the fortress of Schwarzfels where she would probably have remained until her death if she had not escaped. After for years, a friend of hers disguised as a roofer made a hole in her ceiling, threw her a rope, and hoisted her up. She then had to slide 180 feet down the castle wall to freedom.
- - - - -
I do love a happy ending, don't you?
- - - - -
I'm not tagging anyone else, as I follow the rules :-P but if you WISH to be tagged, then you can follow these steps:
Here's how it works...
- Pick up the nearest book.
- Open to page 123.
- Find the fifth sentence.
- Post the next three sentences on your blog.
- Then tag five people (and don't forget to name the lovely soul that thought so much as to include YOU!)
OK, seriously... y'all need to be more creative than tagging people that have already been tagged or tagged you... sheesh!
But since I've been reading lots lately, no worries...
- - - - -
From Sex and the Queen. Nine Hundred Years of Vile Kings, Virile Lovers , and Passionate Politics.
By Eleanor Herman:
After her interrogation, Eleonore had been imprisoned in solitary confinement in the fortress of Schwarzfels where she would probably have remained until her death if she had not escaped. After for years, a friend of hers disguised as a roofer made a hole in her ceiling, threw her a rope, and hoisted her up. She then had to slide 180 feet down the castle wall to freedom.
- - - - -
I do love a happy ending, don't you?
- - - - -
I'm not tagging anyone else, as I follow the rules :-P but if you WISH to be tagged, then you can follow these steps:
Here's how it works...
- Pick up the nearest book.
- Open to page 123.
- Find the fifth sentence.
- Post the next three sentences on your blog.
- Then tag five people (and don't forget to name the lovely soul that thought so much as to include YOU!)
I'm it again...
Thanks Shirl...
I'm not sure about the legalities of being re-tagged in the same meme, but what the hoot...
- - - - -
From LAMB. The Gospel according to Biff, Christ's childhood Pal. A Novel.
By Christopher Moore:
I know what you're thinking, that the angel saved my life when Titus threw me off the ship and that I should be more forgiving toward him, right? That I shouldn't try to manipulate a poor creature who was given an ego but no free will or capacity for creative thought, right? Okay, good point.
- - - - -
If you've not read a novel by Christopher Moore, you just do NOT love yourself! Go out. Go out now and buy one of his books. You'll thank me later...
I'm not sure about the legalities of being re-tagged in the same meme, but what the hoot...
- - - - -
From LAMB. The Gospel according to Biff, Christ's childhood Pal. A Novel.
By Christopher Moore:
I know what you're thinking, that the angel saved my life when Titus threw me off the ship and that I should be more forgiving toward him, right? That I shouldn't try to manipulate a poor creature who was given an ego but no free will or capacity for creative thought, right? Okay, good point.
- - - - -
If you've not read a novel by Christopher Moore, you just do NOT love yourself! Go out. Go out now and buy one of his books. You'll thank me later...
...as if it were even possible...
In one week from today...
...'Gay Paris' will become just a little bit gayer.CAN.
NOT.
WAIT!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
talkin' shit
If there's one thing I cannot abide, it's phones in the washroom or bathroom. And without being TOO repetitive but JE-SUS H. CHRIST... what is with people talking on their cell phones while in a public washroom?!?!
YET again, I was in the multi-throne room doing my 'business' when some asstard came in, entered the stall next to me, unzipped, sat down and dialled his cell phone and began a business conversation. (Worth noting at this point is that it was not the repeat offender, but some other aberration to the gene pool).
It's also worth noting that until he came in, I was having a rather raucous time myself, (Thank you McDo) full of many "musical notes" if you will. Well when he came in I stifled my performance as best as could. I'm a good neighbour. Yes I know, "'everybody poops" and yes, I know, "everybody farts" too, but sometimes you like there to be just a little mystery between you and a complete stranger...
Well, I was so disgusted with one stall over's audacity to call someone to talk business while taking a shit that I stifled no mo'. Yes, that's right, like a tuba solo in a high-school marching band, I let 'er rip! It was like the Battle Hymn of the Republic It was AMAZING... (god love toilet stall acoustics!)
And then do you know what? Shit for brains had the nerve to ask me "Hey, do you mind? Can you keep it down, I'm on the phone here." [I KNOW!] I was so insensed that not only did Misster-Kitty get pissy, but even impressed himself!...
I said, "My bad. What was I thinking? Here I though THIS was the washroom. Next time I need to take a shit I'll head on over to your office, and pinch one out on your desk, since it seems you're not using it for WORK" And then I cut another one, for poetic closure.
No further comments from the pee-nut gallery were voiced. But I did hear him say "I'll call you back" Then he flushed and exited.
YET again, I was in the multi-throne room doing my 'business' when some asstard came in, entered the stall next to me, unzipped, sat down and dialled his cell phone and began a business conversation. (Worth noting at this point is that it was not the repeat offender, but some other aberration to the gene pool).
It's also worth noting that until he came in, I was having a rather raucous time myself, (Thank you McDo) full of many "musical notes" if you will. Well when he came in I stifled my performance as best as could. I'm a good neighbour. Yes I know, "'everybody poops" and yes, I know, "everybody farts" too, but sometimes you like there to be just a little mystery between you and a complete stranger...
Well, I was so disgusted with one stall over's audacity to call someone to talk business while taking a shit that I stifled no mo'. Yes, that's right, like a tuba solo in a high-school marching band, I let 'er rip! It was like the Battle Hymn of the Republic It was AMAZING... (god love toilet stall acoustics!)
And then do you know what? Shit for brains had the nerve to ask me "Hey, do you mind? Can you keep it down, I'm on the phone here." [I KNOW!] I was so insensed that not only did Misster-Kitty get pissy, but even impressed himself!...
I said, "My bad. What was I thinking? Here I though THIS was the washroom. Next time I need to take a shit I'll head on over to your office, and pinch one out on your desk, since it seems you're not using it for WORK" And then I cut another one, for poetic closure.
No further comments from the pee-nut gallery were voiced. But I did hear him say "I'll call you back" Then he flushed and exited.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
TAG! I'm it.
It's that time again guys and he-gals...
Tag time.
The divine Mitzi (Clutter from the Gutter) tagged me with an amusing blogish tag.
Here's how it works...
- Pick up the nearest book.
- Open to page 123.
- Find the fifth sentence.
- Post the next three sentences on your blog.
- Then tag five people (and don't forget to name the lovely soul that thought so much as to include YOU!)
- - - - -
I've not only grabbed the nearest book, but it so happens to be the book I'm currently reading and I'm not even remotely near page 123, so, lets hope this does not smack of a spoiler for me...
...from The Highest Tide, by Jim Lynch:
He asked me how many people I thought were having sex when the quake hit."Hundreds? Thousands?" Angie Stenger's story was that she'd slept through the whole damn thing.
Well I wasn't expecting there to be an earthquake in the novel, but then it's centred around Puget Sound in North Eastern Washington State, so I guess I shouldn't be that surprised...
- - - - -
OK so time to get a taggin'... my selections are a bit selfish really, as they are all fellow Bloglodytes who have been shirking their Blog as of late and damn it, I wanna read something on their blog! So, here goes:
John -everything but poopie
Jerome -dull-gloomy
N@ -the infernal journal
Corn -power juice
Keltie -365 masks (who knows maybe the text will inspire a mask for her!)
Tag time.
The divine Mitzi (Clutter from the Gutter) tagged me with an amusing blogish tag.
Here's how it works...
- Pick up the nearest book.
- Open to page 123.
- Find the fifth sentence.
- Post the next three sentences on your blog.
- Then tag five people (and don't forget to name the lovely soul that thought so much as to include YOU!)
- - - - -
I've not only grabbed the nearest book, but it so happens to be the book I'm currently reading and I'm not even remotely near page 123, so, lets hope this does not smack of a spoiler for me...
...from The Highest Tide, by Jim Lynch:
He asked me how many people I thought were having sex when the quake hit."Hundreds? Thousands?" Angie Stenger's story was that she'd slept through the whole damn thing.
Well I wasn't expecting there to be an earthquake in the novel, but then it's centred around Puget Sound in North Eastern Washington State, so I guess I shouldn't be that surprised...
- - - - -
OK so time to get a taggin'... my selections are a bit selfish really, as they are all fellow Bloglodytes who have been shirking their Blog as of late and damn it, I wanna read something on their blog! So, here goes:
John -everything but poopie
Jerome -dull-gloomy
N@ -the infernal journal
Corn -power juice
Keltie -365 masks (who knows maybe the text will inspire a mask for her!)
Monday, June 2, 2008
Here's a shocker... NOT
Tom Lukiwski, The [Homophobic] Conservative MP from Regina that apologized for homophobic remarks he made in a 1991 video, saying he was NOT homophobic and would, going forward help to promote tolerance; was a no-show at this past week-end's Regina Pride events. He had been invited personally by the Pride Committee.
Colour me surprised? No.
Colour me disgusted? Yes.
So I'd like to go on record, with no apologies, and you can quote me on this, and please, PLEASE do...
There's As and there's Bs. The As are guys [and gals and she-guys and he-gals] like me. The Bs are hypocritical, hate-mongering, two-faced lying politicians with dirt on their fingernails that transmit hatred, lies and reinforce peoples instinctual distrust of not only conservative, but all politicians in general.
Colour me surprised? No.
Colour me disgusted? Yes.
So I'd like to go on record, with no apologies, and you can quote me on this, and please, PLEASE do...
There's As and there's Bs. The As are guys [and gals and she-guys and he-gals] like me. The Bs are hypocritical, hate-mongering, two-faced lying politicians with dirt on their fingernails that transmit hatred, lies and reinforce peoples instinctual distrust of not only conservative, but all politicians in general.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
One small step for man...
one giant leap for Bagel-kind.
Having been a Montréalais for almost 18 years I can tell you, there are a few things you can get here that are better than anywhere else on Earth:
- Smoked Meat
- Poutine
- Bagels
And it is this 3rd on the list that is making news around the world, ant not only any Bagels, but THE best of the best of the best... Fairmount Bagels
Read here.
I lived two blocks from Fairmount Bagels a few years back and I can tell you that at 3:30 in the morning, coming home from a late night of carousing NOTHING hit the spot like warm bagel, just out of the oven. YUM.
Having been a Montréalais for almost 18 years I can tell you, there are a few things you can get here that are better than anywhere else on Earth:
- Smoked Meat
- Poutine
- Bagels
And it is this 3rd on the list that is making news around the world, ant not only any Bagels, but THE best of the best of the best... Fairmount Bagels
Read here.
I lived two blocks from Fairmount Bagels a few years back and I can tell you that at 3:30 in the morning, coming home from a late night of carousing NOTHING hit the spot like warm bagel, just out of the oven. YUM.
