I'm not going to get weepy, but I have the best family in the world. I'm not sure how we got this lucky, but I'm thankful as hell for these creeps.
However you're spending today, I hope it's fantastic!
The Polar Express Book
I can't accurately describe how it feels to look at that book cover above. I'll never be able to because it's too magical to express. I suppose it makes sense that I love it so much since Chris Van Allsburg can create such beautiful things.
If there's one book that I need to make sure your kid grows up with, it's this one. I might feel especially linked to it since it was released the year that I was born - or maybe it's just that image of snow at night. I will never fall out of love with the act of snow falling at night.
We're all aware of the (somewhat creepy) animated version of the story that was made into a movie with Tom Hanks - but is it a good movie? That's up to you. I'll forever prefer the book. Please don't forget about the book!
(Sidenote: Keep an eye on your pets tonight.)
Happy Birthday, Ma
Usually I don't devote an entire post to someone's birthday - but if you're my grandmother and you're turning 96 years of age? Get real. I gotta let the people know about that.
Look at this woman! She's amazing. The woman cut cane in the cane fields in Trinidad for decades! This woman had thirteen children! What the hell have YOU done?!
In any case, I'm lucky to know this woman and to have her give me so much love throughout my life. She spoils me more than anyone and tells me in private that she loves me more than my mother does. Simply put, she's the best there is. I'll live out the rest of my life trying to be as good as her.
Stop Motion Animation
I mentioned earlier how much I love the Museum of the Moving Image mainly due to its stop motion animation station on the third floor. This (above) is the most recent animation that I can proudly say is my own creation.
Tip of the Day - Romance
I strive to be a least 10% romantic with every person I care for in my life for the duration of each relationship. How did the idea of romance become pigeonholed and exclusively linked to sexual relationships? When did that happen? Has that always been the norm? And if it has, WHY has it? You're telling me that your friendships wouldn't benefit from a little romance? Romance doesn't have to have the undertones of sexual gratification, does it? No! I'm here to tell you that no, it does not.
How can you be romantic within your friendships? So many ways.
- I've been on the receiving (and giving) end of scrapbooks that have had lasting, romantic impressions which have span years.
- Decorative swan statues outposted on a front yard as part of surprising birthday declarations.
- Writing down funny things that someone says and keeping it somewhere so you don't forget.
- Impromptu road trips solely devoted to seeing Martha Stewart's home (and nearby jail) in upstate New York.
- Bringing your own wine and going to a pool with someone.
- Hiding small gifts in someone's house for them to find at a later date.
- Mailing someone a treat they've been missing from home.
- When someone visits you on vacation and not only lets you completely plan their daily activities, but also enjoys it.
- Insisting on someone taking a walk with you. (This doesn't seem special, but when someone insists on me taking a walk with them? I fucking swoon - it's so nice.)
- Private cooking lessons with a classically trained French chef in the storefronts of Paris.
- Sharing the most perfect post-steak nap after a beautiful dinner, thus wrecking the rest of your planned evening and not caring simultaneously.
- After a sad/ominous goodbye with someone, having someone run out into the middle of the street to grab you, turn you around and kiss you infront of waiting traffic.
If I'm boasting, that's a shame that you see it that way. I'm so proud and happy that all of those things above have either happened to me or I've done for someone. I only want that kind of romance to continue in my life. I'm only letting you know about it here as kind of a public announcement for you to be more romantic in your own life. Why? 'Cause I swear to God it'll make you happier. And of all of those points listed, only TWO of them were with Nathan - and that makes me so fucking glad that I get to have friends who make up the majority of romance in my life. And that isn't supposed to be a jab at him - I don't particularly care to list and describe the complete romantic goings-on of us since that isn't the point of this post. What I'm trying to get across to you is that romance isn't just for couples. We could all use some, so maybe you should get on that.
Christmas Season Guff
Let's get one thing straight. I start Christmas on November 1st. I'M SORRY. I happen to have some valid reasons, too, so shut up and hear me out.
- Winter is long and cold, agreed. So doesn't it make sense to make the most of the holidays for the maximum amount of time (ie. November 1st - December 25th) since, well, come January 1st we, as a human race, have NOTHING to look forward to until SPRING?! THREE MONTHS OF GARBAGE WEATHER WITH NOTHING FUN IN SIGHT?! Can't I bask in a loving, warm, Christmas-y feeling for the maximum amount that should be socially acceptable by now?
- Christmas is (and should) be mostly about giving. Is it not too early to put a little bit of extra thought into whatever you're giving people as gifts? You need that extra time! You need that November time.
- I'm Canadian and we already had our Thanksgiving, so our next holiday technically is CHRISTMAS. It's the next one on our horizon! Deal with it. I'm putting up lights, bitch.
- So you're telling me you'd say no to a Christmas cookie that was served to you in November? Yeah, right. You're gonna eat that damn cookie and we both know it.
Let me also get another thing clear, I do not pump any sort of Christmas music this early because, personally, I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas music all the time. However there's no need to be so utterly hate-filled when you're out and about and you happen to hear it. Get out of the streets/stores/world if you hate it so much! Online shop! 'Cause it's Christmastime, baby. And the music is gonna blare.
And no, I haven't put up my Christmas tree yet. Nathan said it's "too early". My Dad would say the same thing to me every November 1st. One day, dammit. One day I'll show these men how things need to get done.
Anyway, my point here? LET ME START CHRISTMAS WITHOUT ANY OF YOUR GUFF, please.
Happy Halloween!
Tina Belcher! Maybe you're not as impressed with this one as you were with last year's or the year before, but screw you (!) 'cause I love it. And if you're wondering, yes - that is Nathan's butt up there. He didn't even pry and ask me why I wanted to take a photo of it, he just said okay - isn't that a nice trait to have in a man? The no-questions-asked trait? I'm into it. The trait and the butt.
Anyhow, I hope your Halloween is the best. Eat candy! Watch something scary! Celebrate, dammit! Y'aint better than Halloween.
Downey's Farm in Caledon, Ontario
I've been going to this farm for twenty years and I doubt I'll ever stop.
In recent years, they've added on a lot of things so there's an admission of $14 per person on weekends and $7 per person on weekdays, which isn't that crazy considering the farm's closed most of the colder months.
And there's an area where you can build your own scarecrow. And I don't know what kind of hay they use here, but I built one with my dad about fifteen years ago, so let's just say that it definitely holds up over time.
But the main reason to go here? These pumpkin donuts.
Even thought 100% of the people who I let have a bite of this said, "This doesn't taste like pumpkin" - I still maintain that it DOES. Also, it's one of the best donuts I've had. Maybe 'cause they make it at the farm? Maybe all the sugar on it? I don't know, I'm not a scientist. EAT THIS DONUT! They're seventy-five bloody cents, so I recommend getting a dozen.
This is the only place to be come October. Take your family!
You can find more details here.
Martha Stewart Bedding Collection
This is the autumn/winter bedspread I just bought for my bed from Macy's. I was going to show you a picture of how it looks on my bed, but I'm not sure I'd want you to see my bed since beds are so terribly personal. Instead here's what the gorgeous print looks like up close.
It's a flannel duvet cover that was on sale for $70 that apparently I couldn't live without. And honestly, after having slept in it the past few days, it's one of my favourite things in this house now. It's more comfortable than anything I've ever slept in, it's weird - I feel like it's almost a hotel bed.
I'm not a fan of how duvets feel (and I don't own one), so instead I bought this flannel duvet cover so that I could put my regular old comforter inside. That way I have a beautiful, warm new cover, but with the comfort of my old, I'm-sick-of-its-pattern comforter inside hiding. I swear to God it works just as well as with any duvet. I hate even writing "duvet" - such a stupid word. Almost like it knows it's expensive.
Anyhow, if you don't have a duvet or don't like them, then please try out this idea. Duvet covers can be costly, but if you look hard enough you can find a great one (or even better, a flannel one) for between $60 - $80.
Fury of the Day - Servers Who Post Bad Tips Online
You can go right to hell if you've ever:
Posted a receipt showing a bad tip online.
Criticized a stranger's tip decision.
When that whole LeSean McCoy tipping story came out, I lost my mind for a minute. Not because he's on my fantasy football team, but because WE DON'T FUCKING KNOW THIS MAN and he should be able to tip or not tip whatever the fuck he wants since it's HIS MONEY. It's no one's fucking business what a person tips!
We act as though waiters are the lowest forms of employment and we need to make sure they're tipped appropriately for the rest of time, no matter what the service is like. What the hell is with that? How did that become the norm?
I understand that a lot of waiters live off of their tips and obviously that's part of the problem. There's an article I love that goes into this more that I completely agree with and you can find here.
It makes me so happy to know that a lot of these assholes posting these receipts online get fired. So fucking happy.
You can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter.