Friday Quick Takes

--- 1 ---

I spent Halloween in Houston. I had dinner on a lovely little patio, enjoying the 20 degree warmth watching the ghouls and goblins run around the square as a local artist entertained us on his guitar.

Jimmy handed out the candy at home warding off the -11 frigid air trying to make a dent in our HUGE pile of candy we had stocked up on. I was so worried we would run out, be known as the worst house on the block and submit ourselves to a year of tortuous treatment.

--- 2 ---

My favorite Halloween candy (candy - not chocolate) would be either mini nerds or whoppers. Whoppers are kind of chocolate but I don't really think of them as such. I love nerds. Blueberry/Raspberry is my favorite color combo. I like eating a few of both colors at the same time. Mmmmm nerds!

--- 3 ---

Speaking of nerds, I am afraid that I might be a bit of a nerd. I am down in Houston because we have our company meeting here this week. A company meeting that will include 200 consultants. I think that consultants are kind of nerdy - in the best way - but nerdy none the least. In fact - what is more chatty than a teachers conference? A consulting conference! Cause not only do we like to talk; we all have an opinion on EVERYTHING and most of us think we are right 90% of that time. And why are we nerdy? Not because we have fantastic grammar (as apparently we do not) but because the things we most like to talk about don't tend to be sports. Unless we have stats on our sports teams. Then we love to talk about sports. Oh and it is indices not indexes . . .

--- 4 ---

I never really considered myself to be brutal with grammar. I will say though kids - stay in school - and don't stop reading. My vocabulary, spelling and grammar have all declined since I don't get a chance to read as much.

Regardless - some of my colleagues have a pet peeve when it comes to grammar and I am sure I strike all their sensitive chords:

Further vs Farther
Couple questions vs couple of questions
Indexes vs Indices
Formulae vs Formulas

Ugh - I just keep telling them it's my Canadian accent. I think they are starting to see through that though.

--- 5 ---

So speaking of reading - I have suddenly found myself with at least 3 hours a week there I can't do much else other than read. It is that time I spend sitting on the plane waiting. Waiting for it to load. Waiting for it to take off. Waiting for it to land. Or planes shall I say. And so I have committed to myself that I will use that time to read more. Right now I am reading Memoirs of MidWives. And thanks to mom I have a whole list of other books to read.  As a result, I think I should renew my Calgary library card. In fact, I will do just that when I am home next!

--- 6 ---

I have also decided that as light weight and convenient as e-readers are, I do not think they are for me. For a couple of reasons - I am such a tactile individual and I love the feeling of a book. The art of curling a soft cover around as I snuggle into bed. Flipping the page. Visually seeing how much further on the page, the chapter, the book. Smelling the fresh ink or the mustiness of those gems you find in a second hand store! Not to mention that you can't enjoy your e-reader when you are sitting on the plane waiting.

--- 7 ---

I would also like to start keeping a journal again. I miss it! Not that I have anything interesting to write about but I am sure I can find something to blabber on about. I thing creativity for me is a bit like a muscle. If you don't keep it working, it shrivels up and becomes weak! The more you 'exercise' your creativity, the stronger it seems to get. I haven't spent a lot of time exercising that creativity and I need to change that.

 

Starting - with a journal.

 

(see I do have an opinion on everything . . . oh dear)