Laurie's Project 365 Blog

Telephone from Below (130/366)

2008-05-09T23:02:00.001-05:00

Taken from floor-level after doing some sit ups in the studio because George was taking a nap in the living room. It's amazing how different things look from below...

BONUS PHOTO: Flowers for Mom (129b/366)

2008-05-09T23:00:00.003-05:00

Mother's Day is on Sunday. My mother's birthday was on May 17th. Her death day was June 3rd.

So, in honor of all those occasions, I put some fresh daisies (one of her favorite flowers) and a small food offering on the living room altar yesterday.

And here's a photo of her, which I took via our iMac's built-in camera a couple of months before her death.

Wherever you are, Mom, I hope you have peace and happiness -- and that you remember how much I love you.

Secret Window (129/366)

2008-05-09T19:23:00.001-05:00

While sitting in my doctor's waiting room, I happened to look up and see this window that I'm sure almost nobody ever looks out of.

Clean Kitchen and Firemen (128/366)

2008-05-09T19:22:00.004-05:00

First, the beautiful clean kitchen that I woke up to. George had been busy doing more than art on the night shift.

Second, some firemen that I saw downtown, investigating a sidewalk awning.

Bedroom Window (127/366)

2008-05-09T19:22:00.001-05:00

Looking straight up from my side of the bed.

Snow and Beltane Altar (125 & 126/366)

2008-05-09T19:20:00.004-05:00

I didn't take a photo on May 5th (too sick), so there's an extra one from May 4th to make up for the lack.

First, snow on Beltane! I really pity the folks who had to do public ritual in the park in three inches of snow.

Second, the indoor altar for our inner court group's Beltane ceremony. Mmmm, strawberries.

Broke Back Kitty (124/366)

2008-05-09T19:20:00.001-05:00

Emmie is all broked.

A Hospital Trip (123/366)

2008-05-09T19:18:00.002-05:00

An allergic reaction to the antibiotics prescribed for the kidney infection sent me to the nearest Urgent Care ward.

First, a nice view over the bridge from the hospital waiting room:

Second, a not-so-nice view of my arm. The rash wasn't itchy, but it was all over my body, and therefore alarming.

Furry (122/366)

2008-05-09T19:16:00.001-05:00

A close-up of Emmie's fur in the sunshine.

A Lazy Afternoon (121/366)

2008-05-09T19:15:00.000-05:00

It was a sleepy day for me, and also for Die Katzen.

Erm, isn't that illegal? (120/366)

2008-05-09T19:14:00.001-05:00

I got out for a while, and on the way back home I caught this van, parked illegally on the corner, with the rear hatch open, nobody in it, and the motor on. *sigh*

Test Strips (119/366)

2008-05-09T19:13:00.002-05:00

Another day ill, another lackluster photograph.

Sunset (118/366)

2008-05-09T19:13:00.001-05:00

Another uninspired shot under the influence of infection.

Channel Surfing (117/366)

2008-05-09T19:12:00.000-05:00

An uninspired shot. A kidney infection had me laid just about flat and this was all that I had energy to shoot.

Tennis, anyone? (116/366)

2008-05-09T19:11:00.001-05:00

The front of the ancient video game tabletop console that serves as our TV stand.

Cats, Snow, Window (115/366)

2008-05-09T19:03:00.000-05:00

An unexpected snow has the cats interested.

Pep Talk (114/366)

2008-04-24T10:39:00.001-05:00

Framed, on the wall of the cubicle where I stripped off and put on an X-ray gown prior to a procedure.

I mean, sure, it's admirable that they're trying to inject some whimsy and cheer into what is fundamentally a grim and utilitarian diagnostic process. But somehow the notion that I was being given a pep talk by an X-ray gown, of all things, made me feel more surreal than encouraged.

Cats and Plots (113/366)

2008-04-24T10:38:00.001-05:00

Me, sitting on pens? Naw!

Don't they look like they're plotting something?

Dragonfly (112/366)

2008-04-24T10:37:00.003-05:00

Seen in the mud beside the sidewalk while going to get groceries.

April Inner Court Altar (111/366)

2008-04-24T10:37:00.001-05:00

The Full Moon inner court group's altar for April.

Do Not Use (110/366)

2008-04-24T10:35:00.001-05:00

At the Confusion Corner bus stop. I have no idea what it was referring to.

Broken Sugar Bowl (109/366)

2008-04-18T15:17:00.003-05:00

This morning the sugar bowl I've been using to hold my Splenda broke -- first at the base, and then the bowl broke in two when I put it in the garbage. It has some nice reflections, though.

Fish Stick (108/366)

2008-04-18T15:17:00.001-05:00

Taken behind a local sushi restaurant as I walked home with groceries. I just liked the characters on the side of the box.

Artistic Bear (107/366)

2008-04-18T15:16:00.000-05:00

Another one of the "Bears on Broadway", shot as I went to get a replacement social insurance card.

Oil, Vinegar, and Bread (106/366)

2008-04-18T15:15:00.001-05:00

Bread as a free appetizer at the Mona Lisa Restaurant on Corydon Avenue.

Roslyn Apartment (105/366)

2008-04-18T15:13:00.003-05:00

The red apartment block at the corner of Osborne Street and Roslyn Road.

ReBoot Meets The Tick (104/366)

2008-04-13T13:42:00.001-05:00

Some little figurines that George discovered in a box. From left to right: Phong (ReBoot), Dot (ReBoot), The Tick (The Tick), and American Maid (The Tick).

Type K Ration (103/366)

2008-04-13T13:41:00.000-05:00

A Type K ration on display at the Millennium Library.

Red Bull (102/366)

2008-04-13T13:40:00.001-05:00

A just-emptied can of Red Bull. It helped my menstruation-related fatigue a little.

Back Yard Dog (101/366)

2008-04-13T13:38:00.001-05:00

Two houses over from us, the neighbor's dog looks up at our apartment window.

Break & Circuses (100/366)

2008-04-10T10:56:00.001-05:00

Yesterday George and I went out to Bread & Circuses, a local bakery/coffee shop.

Here's our meal:

And the art above our table:

And the view out the front window:

Is She Dead, Jim? (99/366)

2008-04-10T10:55:00.001-05:00

Mina in her favorite new toy, the box from our new coffee maker. As my husband remarked, it looks like she's dead and just waiting to be taken out and buried.

Cats (98/366)

2008-04-07T19:15:00.001-05:00

Mina sometimes picks the funniest places -- and ways -- to sleep.

And Emmie really likes the warm sunshine. Doesn't she look like she's smiling?

The Intarwebs (97/366)

2008-04-07T19:14:00.002-05:00

A shot of one corner of our 24" widescreen.

Sausage and Eggs (96/366)

2008-04-07T19:14:00.001-05:00

A boring day with a very nice breakfast.

New Coffee Maker (95/366)

2008-04-07T19:13:00.003-05:00

Our old coffee maker, which was a wonderful machine for three years, finally started to malfunction a couple of days ago. This is the replacement:

It came with the cutest little "Please Wash Me" card:

Mina Naps (94/366)

2008-04-03T21:37:00.002-05:00

I'm not very creative right now. Feeling punky. So here's another shot of Mina and the latest Winnipeg Free Press headline.

Mina Watches (93/366)

2008-04-03T21:36:00.001-05:00

Mina seems to be enjoying the sights and smells of spring -- until a sound from inside the apartment distracts her.

Blast Off! (92/366)

2008-04-03T21:34:00.000-05:00

A cup that I took home from the Wen-Do session on Saturday; the instructor handed them out so we could drink some juice she'd brought along. Apologies for the bad focus.

Soup and Tea (91/366)

2008-04-03T21:31:00.002-05:00

A look inside one of our kitchen cupboards. A cheat shot, since I actually forgot to take a picture on the 91st day. Mea culpa.

Leaves and Light (90/366)

2008-03-31T14:03:00.000-05:00

Leaves and light at the house where I go to play AD&D every two weeks.

The Plan (89/366)

2008-03-31T14:01:00.001-05:00

At the Wen-Do course we talked about the necessary steps in a plan to get out of an abusive relationship. Here are the results.

Cafe 22 (88/366)

2008-03-28T14:01:00.002-05:00

Cafe 22, a local restaurant, has artificial greenery entwined across its ceiling.

Also from Cafe 22, a vase on a shelf, filled with glass beads.

Books of the Week (87/366)

2008-03-28T14:00:00.000-05:00

The books of the week.

Unexpected Light (86/366)

2008-03-26T18:37:00.003-05:00

Reflected light from the apartment block across the street shed unexpected radiance on our front step about half an hour ago.

Mina on the Couch 1 & 2 (85/366)

2008-03-25T13:42:00.002-05:00

Mina on the couch, snuggled up against my hip as George and I had coffee:

Isn't it amazing that her eyes are almost exactly the same color as the couch itself?

Chicken Dinner (84/366)

2008-03-24T22:08:00.002-05:00

Got up insanely late today, so this is all I have the inspiration to take a shot of:

We'll be eating a lot of coleslaw over the next day or two, because there was plenty left over from Easter dinner.

A Trip to Selkirk 1-3 (83/366)

2008-03-24T22:07:00.002-05:00

On Sunday we went out to Selkirk for Easter dinner.

Here's a church in downtown Winnipeg, decked out for the holy day:

The countryside north of Winnipeg, flat and desolate:

The waterslides in Lockport:

A Day a the University 1-3 (82/366)

2008-03-24T22:00:00.002-05:00

Two friends and I took part in a Wen-Do class at the University of Manitoba.

This was given to us to place on our table at the IQ Restaurant on campus so that they could bring the food to the correct table:

The instructor brought some Jewish cookies called Hamantaschen, which were very delicious (but the carpet... oh, ugly):

Here is the recipe for the cookies. However, it should say at the end: "Brush with beaten egg. Bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven until golden brown."

The Bridge Drive-In (81/366)

2008-03-21T19:36:00.002-05:00

Terri and I went out for lunch today, and afterwards we drove out to the Bridge Drive-In, a Winnipeg landmark which features wonderfully rich soft ice cream and creamy hot fudge. Unfortunately it was still closed for the season.

In the summer (and as early in the spring and as late in the fall as possible), people are lined up twenty deep to access the five serving windows:

Their "closed for the season" sign, with stuffed animal:

The famous foot bridge next to the ice cream shop. It doesn't look like much now, but in the summer it's wonderful to stroll along it into the high-end residential neighborhood across the river, where you can wander around looking at the lovely houses and gardens:

Ukrainian Eggs (80/366)

2008-03-21T19:35:00.001-05:00

Tonight I took part in a traditional Ukrainian egg painting session, complete with hot wax, styluses, and dye baths. These are the result:

Hearts and Bears (79/366)

2008-03-21T19:33:00.001-05:00

First, some hearts. I stopped on the street to tie a loose shoelace, and when I looked down this is what I saw:

Second, one of the Bears on Broadway in downtown Winnipeg. Different businesses sponsored different bears, and a couple of summers ago they were all the rage. There were about 70 of them up and down the street; this one is Bling Bling Bear:

A Little Dep'll Do Ya (78/366)

2008-03-21T19:31:00.001-05:00

A bottle of Dep shampoo from my mother's effects, sitting alone and sunlit in our hallway.

Italian "Easter Eggs" & Lost and Bedraggled (77/366)

2008-03-17T16:32:00.002-05:00

Italian "Easter Eggs" at the Italian mini-mart just up the street from us:

Walking back home, we came across this little bedraggled object:

So sad...

Doritos and Dragons & Horses of a Different Color (76/366)

2008-03-17T16:28:00.004-05:00

Taken at my Sunday AD&D Game. Doritos and the GM's screen, which hides his dice rolls:

The green foam blocks represent carts and horses, as our player characters are attacked by many enemies while guarding a convoy of Imperial treasure:

Missing Post: Lone Man Walking & Chicken Salad Recipe (69 & 71/366)

2008-03-17T16:16:00.002-05:00

I've just realized that I missed uploading a couple of days worth of photos. I've corrected the numbering on the previous sequences, and here they are are.

First, one man in an empty alley:

Second, a recipe from the back of a chicken vegetable soup can label:

Pooka is Rescued! 1 & 2 (75/366)

2008-03-15T00:22:00.003-05:00

I noticed Mina crouched intently by our doorway to the main hall of the apartment block, so I opened the door and found a cat just outside of it.

This is Pooka immediately after he ducked into our suite, scared and alone:

I took the digital camera down to our caretaker's suite and showed her the photo. She immediately recognized who the cat belonged to.

This is the owner, whose name I didn't catch, with Pooka (who had hidden under one of our small desks and had to be coaxed out by her). Caption: "I'm safe now, BITCH! I've got my MOMMY to protect me!!!"

I don't know why stray cats always show up on my doorstep, but they do.

Mina Asleep 1 & 2 (74/366)

2008-03-14T16:16:00.002-05:00

Mina half-falling off of one of the sofa cushions:

And a close up shot a few minutes later, with sunshine:

Year of the Rat Stamps (73/366)

2008-03-14T16:14:00.003-05:00

Some very pretty stamps that George picked up while he was out yesterday afternoon.

Trail of Shoes (72/366)

2008-03-14T16:11:00.004-05:00

Taken the day before yesterday. On the previous evening the shoes were arranged semi-neatly in the hallway. This morning, after the cats were through playing amongst them, they're a mess. (Bonus points to anyone who can spot the cat sleeping off the morning's wild romp.)

Lunch and Shopping 1 & 2 (70/366)

2008-03-10T17:26:00.005-05:00

Lunch at Salisbury House here in Winnipeg. Wednesday's specials in reverse on the wall of mirrors. A "nip" is that restaurant's term for a hamburger, and a "winni" is a hotdog.

And this is what $354 worth of groceries looks like.

International Women's Day March (68/336)

2008-03-08T17:12:00.005-06:00

A shot toward the back of the crowd during the International Women's Day March here in Winnipeg, through the city's scenic Exchange District. It's not as cold as it looks; the temperature was around -9 degrees Celcius, with some nice fresh snow underfoot.

You can find more pictures of the day here:

http://crowdog66.livejournal.com/412641.html

Lunch at Cora's 1 & 2 (67/366)

2008-03-07T15:41:00.002-06:00

In keeping with my impromptu theme of looking up... chickens above at Cora's!

They have an utterly delicious menu, mostly focussed on breakfast fare, which they serve from 6 am to mid-afternoon.

Later, at home, a banana dessert crepe from Cora's. Yummy!

Way Up at the Winnipeg Clinic (66/366)

2008-03-06T18:50:00.005-06:00

Looking WAY up at the Winnipeg Clinic in downtown Winnipeg. Très futuristic, non?

Sunshine on the Shell Sign (65/366)

2008-03-06T18:50:00.004-06:00

Looking up at our local gas station.

Shuffling Footprints in Fresh Snow (64/366)

2008-03-04T17:10:00.001-06:00

The front steps of our apartment building after a fall of fresh snow. Not terribly exciting, but I like the shapes.

An Evening Out 1-3 (63/366)

2008-03-03T21:33:00.003-06:00

Three photos from this evening, when George and I went to a restaurant and then a movie (Juno).

Guess which restaurant?

We were overseen by The Beatles while we ate.

And finally, a fascinating shot of one of the women's washrooms at Grant Park Shopping Centre.

Into the Rhakaan Empire (62/366)

2008-03-02T23:28:00.000-06:00

A closeup of a map our Game Master made for his latest AD&D campaign with, of course, some dice.

A Secret Passage (61/366)

2008-03-02T23:27:00.001-06:00

A secret passage between two buildings in Osborne Village, and one that I'd never really noticed before. It leads from Osborne Street through to the parking lot of the Safeway.

An Offering (60/366)

2008-02-29T19:58:00.006-06:00

An offering on the altar to thank the Goddess for Her assistance in helping me be strong and creative enough to meet a very hard deadline. I've been working pretty much steadily for twelve days, and completed two hundred and fifty pages in that span of time.

The tealight in the blue holder is lit (although you can't see it because of the flash); the incense stick is cinnamon, a scent associated with victory; and the little bowl contains chicken chow mein noodles, chicken fried rice, and lemon sauce from the Chinese food "feast" I ordered to celebrate completing the project.

Prayers for Strength and Creativity (59/366)

2008-02-28T18:52:00.002-06:00

Candles lit in prayer on the living room altar, the red one for strength, the yellow one for creativity, as I race toward a murderous Friday project deadline. Sleep? What's that?

Sunlit Altar (58/366)

2008-02-27T16:05:00.002-06:00

The permanent altar on the east wall of our living room. The red velvet bag contains the ashes of my mother.

Northern Artifacts (57/366)

2008-02-26T16:43:00.004-06:00

Part of a display at the Millennium Library in downtown Winnipeg. I recognize the telescope, the belt, and the beaded pouch (as well as the beaded tunic that you can see a bit of on the right), but have no idea what the other wood and bone objects are.

Rainbow Glass (56/366)

2008-02-25T16:32:00.001-06:00

Even on a cloudy day, the candleholders on our living room table coalesce the available light into shards of radiance.

Snow Family at 777 Jessie Avenue (55/366)

2008-02-24T14:54:00.001-06:00

Taken when George and I walked down to the FoodFare for groceries this afternoon. Cute as all get-out, ain't it?

Emmie through the Door (54/366)

2008-02-23T13:10:00.001-06:00

A photo of Emmie in her bed on top of some boxes in our bedroom, shot through the gap on the hinge side of the door.

Mina in the Sun (53/366)

2008-02-22T13:52:00.003-06:00

Mina has discovered *gasp* that we have a small round table against the north wall of our living room, and of COURSE she now must lie on it.

Silly cat.

A Messy Dinner (52/366)

2008-02-22T10:59:00.004-06:00

I was working my little buns off yesterday, so the only thing I took time to snap a picture of was my dinner when I paused to eat. Behold! Sirloin tip roast, buttered carrots, and two small baked potatoes with sour cream, eaten with mismatched cutlery! Oh, and a dollop of HP Sauce, of course.

Lunar Eclipse Altar Candles (51/366)

2008-02-21T15:27:00.005-06:00

Candles on the altar last night as the Coven of the Silver Wheel met to celebrate the full moon and lunar eclipse. It was a truly magical evening.

An explanation of some of the objects: the knife visible at the lower right is the athame, the ritual blade, and is not used to cut anything except energy. The crescent moon shaped containers in the upper part of the shot hold consecrated water and salt. The brown object to their left is a cut-up bran muffin, and the shiny object to their right is the chalice that holds the juice, both of them for the ritual meal that concludes the ceremony. In the middle of the altar you see a container with sand, which holds a special charcoal used for burning resin incense. The object at the far left is a deer's jawbone, found in the forest and painted by one of the coven's members. The candles and the altar cloth are black because last night's ritual was in honor of the eclipse. Normally there are not quite that many candles on the altar, but each candle represents the illumination that a particular coven member lends to the group.

Tools for an Interview (50/366)

2008-02-19T14:47:00.005-06:00

Today I was interviewed by a Communications student for an audio documentary about Wicca in Winnipeg. This is the recording equipment sitting on our living room table. She has promised to get me a copy of the finished documentary once it has been edited ahd she's received feedback from her instructor.

Morning Trees (49/366)

2008-02-19T10:29:00.003-06:00

Outside our living room window, looking south-east across the back lane.

And to Lew... yes, it is usually very cold. :-) Daytime temperatures are usually around -20 degrees Celcius, which is -4 degrees Fahrenheit, and nigthtime temperatures are in the -30 C range, which is around -31 F. However, Winnipeg gets more sunlight in the winter than any other city in North America, so that makes up for it a bit.

A Simple Breakfast (48/366)

2008-02-17T13:00:00.002-06:00

Today's breakfast: two jumbo eggs scrambled and cooked in the microwave, with rye toast. Such an exciting life.

Candlelit Chalice (47/366)

2008-02-17T12:58:00.003-06:00

Last night we held a Full Moon Group ritual. This is the chalice on the altar, filled with apple juice, with candlelight shining through it. (There are fingerprints on the glass because this is a "recreation" shot, taken after the ritual was concluded; the chalice had been handled by several people in the course of drinking the original round of juice and I hadn't wiped it down for this shot.)

Terri and Me at the Pancake House (46/366)

2008-02-16T16:59:00.001-06:00

Taken from the reflection in the windows. Aren't those overhead lights bright? (The red glints showing through the image are car lights outside.)

So... is anyone actually viewing this blog?

2008-02-15T15:22:00.002-06:00

Just curious if anyone is even looking at the pictures I post...

Sun on the Rooftops (45/366)

2008-02-14T17:23:00.000-06:00

A cold and sunny afternoon.

ToS Paperwork (44/366)

2008-02-13T17:57:00.005-06:00

Paperwork on my desk related to my latest job, which happens to be "ToS" reprints. The printed sheet is my standard docket and outlines the steps in producing a finished page. The handwritten sheet is largely a time log from benchmark tests I did to establish how long it takes me to do a typical page on this project.

Yes, I scrawl and scribble, especially when I expect that nobody else will be seeing my notes.

Mina at the Vet (43/366)

2008-02-12T17:01:00.000-06:00

We took Mina to the vet this afternoon because her right eye has been leaking clear fluid since Saturday morning. The vet did a thorough exam and was left scratching his head. Quote: "There is NOTHING wrong with this cat!"

So no explanation for the tears and the occasional sneezes, except for the possibility that our other cat, Emmie, clocked Mina in the eye with a paw while they were play fighting. We've been instructed to see how she is on Thursday or Friday; the vet thinks that by then the situation will have cleared up on its own. If not, we're to bring her back in.

By the way, all those little squeeze bottles to the left of the sink? Different kinds of disinfectant. Whoa.

Waiting for the Bus (42/366)

2008-02-11T15:20:00.000-06:00

Taken while waiting for the bus at the corner of River Avenue and Osborne Street, after coming from the Safeway listed on the sign. Yes, it is as cold and bleak as it looks.

Miniature God and Goddess (41/366)

2008-02-10T16:45:00.000-06:00

These two little torsos, originally drawer pulls, sit next to my mother's clock on the living room book shelf. I sometimes use them as God and Goddess representations during ritual. I don't remember where I got the Goddess necklace that sits beside them. The keys to the left of them were originally made for my mother's old apartment, which of course ceased to be an issue after she died. I intend to use them in a spell at some point in the future.

Mom's Clock (40/366)

2008-02-10T16:41:00.000-06:00

A closeup of my mother's clock, which used to sit on the entertainment unit in her living room when she was alive, and which now sits on the bookshelf next to the couch in our own living room.

Winter Sky and Fruit (39/366)

2008-02-08T13:36:00.000-06:00

Replacing the clock photo I posted earlier... a tree beside a house on Hugo Street between Jessie Avenue and Corydon Avenue. I have no idea what kind of tree it is, but the fruit has clung to it tenaciously all winter.

Crown of Leaves (38/366)

2008-02-07T13:13:00.000-06:00

Detail of a faux ivy chaplet leaning over the top of a box in our bedroom. It was made for a Beltane ritual a couple of years ago and was worn by me in my role as the God. The green cord has come askew, but was originally wound around the chaplet and trailed down the back in two loops.

Isis, Lady of Healing (37/366)

2008-02-06T18:50:00.000-06:00

An altar I've set up in my studio with a statue representing Isis, Lady of Healing, and a candle lit for the niece of one of my covenmates, who is only ten months old and is in hospital, throwing up and unable to drink.

Light and Leaves in Cafe 22

2008-02-05T18:35:00.000-06:00

A frosted light and fake greenery on the ceiling of Cafe 22, the restaurant just up Corydon from me that's associated with the 222-2222 pizza delivery service. It's a surprisingly upscale venue for a place managed by a company that peddles such cheap pizzas.

Dedication Altar (35/366)

2008-02-04T23:37:00.000-06:00

The altar for our Wiccan worship group's dedication rite.

Terek and Dice (34/366)

2008-02-03T23:22:00.000-06:00

My new AD&D character and some of the dice that make his life... interesting.

The Golden Boy (33.2/366)

2008-02-02T14:24:00.000-06:00

My main shot for today: the Golden Boy on top of the Manitoba Legislative Building, taken through the window of a moving bus. This shot was taken at about 1:30 pm.

Bonus Shot: Apartments Behind Starbucks (33.1/366)

2008-02-02T14:02:00.000-06:00

The apartments behind Starbucks at the head of our street, as George and I were heading off to a funeral at 9 am.

Southern Studio Bookshelf (32/366)

2008-02-01T19:15:00.001-06:00

Some books on the soutern bookshelf in the studio. A sinus infection seems to be coming on and I didn't have the energy to get out and find a more interesting shot today.