Red is becoming popular: “Red is the new black.”

“The colour of warmth, romance, anger, aggression and Christmas is having a moment.”

Posted in culture Tagged: color ]]> http://monado.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/go-red/feed/ 0 monado erin-bee-log http://monado.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/sunday-december-20/ http://monado.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/sunday-december-20/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:21:02 +0000 monado http://monado.wordpress.com/?p=5060 ]]>

I had a long, but interesting and rather pleasant day.

First, I got up early and took AthleticKid to the next largish city, where she lives, to take her Bronze Medallion (Lifesaving) exam. That took three hours, officially. It started late because the examiner had to drive all the way from our city (heh, heh, heh). It finished almost on time, but then there was another hour waiting for all the students to receive feedback from the examiner separately. Only 40% of the students passed.

However, I didn’t waste the time. First, I chatted with the parent of another student. Then, I read for a while. About an hour into the actual exam, a small Aikido class started in the gymnasium, and I was able to watch it and chat with the instructor.

Then I waited an hour for AthleticKid to get her results. Finally, we were able to go for lunch. We went to a friendly Italian restaurant called Limoncello. The personal pizzas were about $10 each, but each will be good for at least three meals.

I took AthleticKid home and chatted for about an hour with her custodian.

Then I drove to a nearby grocery store that I knew of. I had never been inside, but had noticed it next to the Ikea (Swedish furniture) store. It turned out to be huge, with a large variety of products. Ienjoyed exploring the store and bought some new things to try. Finally, I checked out and headed for home.

It’s been a long time since I baked anything. Parades of bananas go from just right to overripe to too far gone, while I muse, “I’d like to make a banana cake… the bananas aren’t soft enough… they’re just right but I’m too busy… they’re overripe! Maybe next time.  So here it’s the weekend and yes, we have no bananas. Maybe I could buy some already ripe & soft? And bread—how hard can it be?

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see more Lolcats and funny pictures

It’s Christmas party time at work. Yesterday, I tasted a casserole that I think was made with bear meat, courtesy of a colleague who hunts and who eats what he catches. It tasted something like mutton, something like pork. Interesting!

But we’re making up for lost time! It has snowed all around us but I think the city melts the first few snows on the way down, when conditions are borderline.

I saw my first few flakes of snow yesterday; then a storm moved in overnight and we’re getting snow, freezing rain, rain, and then snow in that order for the next 20 or so hours, courtesy of a “Colorado low.”

Although it was a record that Toronto went through November without any snow, my usual impression is that we have the first snow that stays on the ground about December 10, so we’re on track for the last few years.

However, here’s the rather impressive storm warning…

WINTER STORM WARNING: City of Toronto issued at 5:17 a.m. EST Wednesday 9 December 2009

..Snow heavy at times accompanied by strong winds today.. This is a warning that dangerous winter weather conditions are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..listen for updated statements.

..Winter storm warning.. An intense low pressure system currently centred near Lake Michigan continues to bring much precipitation to parts of Ontario today.

Snow associated with this system has fallen over southern Ontario except in the national capital region where it will soon start this morning. Snow has now changed to rain in extreme southwestern Ontario. The changeover from snow to rain will spread eastward throughout the day and into the evening hours for most areas. Rain will change back to snow sometime this evening. Additional snow amounts will range from a trace to 5 centimetres for the greater Toronto area and vicinity..5 to 10 centimetres for areas to north..and near 15 centimetres towards the Ottawa valley by this evening.

Strong easterly winds up to 60 km/h will accompany the snow today significantly lowering visibilities in blowing snow. Periods of heavy snow are also likely. Also..very strong southwesterly becoming westerly winds of 60 km/h gusting up to 90 will follow tonight.

..Wind warning..
Very strong winds will develop tonight along the north shore of the lower Great Lakes in association with the winter storm that is sweeping through portions of the province today. Southwesterly becoming westerly winds of 60 km/h gusting to 90 are expected for these regions. This wind warning includes only the areas along the Lake Erie shoreline..as those along the north shore of Lake Ontario have been accounted for under the winter storm warning currently in effect for them. Winds will likely diminish from west to east sometime overnight into Thursday morning.

..Snow squall watch..
Conditions will be favourable for snow squalls to develop in the wake of the winter storm that is sweeping through portions of the province today. Flurries at times heavy and snow squalls will likely develop beginning overnight and intensify on Thursday. The exact locations and snowfall amounts are still uncertain at present. Generally local amounts of 15 centimetres or more in snow squalls may be expected by Thursday evening. In addition the accompanying strong westerly winds will cause blowing snow and reduce visibilities to near zero. Motorists are encouraged to use extra caution and allow extra travel time. Snow squalls may persist for the next couple of days in some regions before they weaken. Environment Canada will continue to monitor this developing situation closely. Further warnings may be issued as warranted.

Time to dig out the fur-lined shoelaces!

Laundry and more laundry.

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A bunch of us had a swimming lesson last Sunday, and it was fun.

The "airport" drill, passing over each other at different levels

I finished another busy week at work. Now it’s time to dash down to my parents’ house to clean and do minor repairs. And I got paid on my last invoice, so I can pay bills.

Then it’s time to dash back, make sure I’m ready for next week, and squeeze in a little extra house-cleaning for Christmas.

There was a charity sale at work and I treated myself to a small music-player attached to headphones. I’m finally joining the ’90s! Now to try it out and see if I really need a sound track for my life.

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Given the number of lung transplants each year in North America, perhaps when a continent-wide alert is on and you’re at the top of the list it’s not too surprising that lungs are found. But almost half of transplant candidates die on the waiting list or become too ill for the surgery before it happens; and at that point they’re regretfully removed from the waiting list. Natalia was fighting for her life when the call finally came. Members of her family were literally less than 24 hours from donating parts of their own lungs–and writing their wills–when the lungs were approved.

The Toronto Star says, “Lung transplant came at the eleventh hour.” We can leave off the “miracle” part and thank the devoted family, dedicated surgeons, and modern communications and transportation–and the thoughtful people who sign their donor cards when they are young and healthy.

Related Surprise lung transplant…
Dying mom keeps online…

Then the call came. After a fruitless 3 1/2 months of Natalia Ritchie being on the transplant list, a set of lungs was available. “The call came literally at the 11th hour,” [her husband] Martin Ritchie, 35, says in an interview. “I can’t imagine it coming any closer.”They were debating whether she was even a transplant candidate anymore; she’d slipped so far.”

The call came around noon but it was 6 p.m. before the surgical team, led by Dr. Shaf Keshavjee, determined the lungs were suitable and they were ready to go ahead with a projected 10-hour double-lung transplant operation.

Ritchie, chief financial officer of Toronto-based renewable energy company Greta Energy Inc., talks to the Star on Tuesday after spending the morning with their 4-month-old baby, Scarlett; a long day awaits him at Toronto General Hospital, where his 30-year-old wife is in stable condition. “I know the lungs are working, which is huge,” he says. “I see her chest heaving and there’s no coughing or rattling for the first time in years. It’s pretty amazing to see that those are taking.”

Had the organs not been available, Ritchie and Natalia’s brother, John Boguslawski, and father, Chris Boguslawski, were ready to share their lungs with her. The trio had passed tests proving them psychologically and physically sound. “We were meeting on Saturday to decide which two of the three of us would go in,” Ritchie says. “And then the call came. It really was a miracle.”

In October, Natalia Ritchie entered St. Michael’s Hospital, site of North America’s largest cystic fibrosis program. This month, she had to be moved to Toronto General and put on a Novalung – a machine that acts as an external organ, oxygenating the blood and removing [carbon dioxide].