2012 Perseid Meteor Shower

 

 

Every year around this time, the Earth is pelted with fiery stones from the frigid depths of outer space. Instead of as being as terrifying as that concept has every right to be, it is beautiful and awe-inspiring. For skywatchers, this year’s Perseid meteor shower should be a particular treat, with Jupiter and Venus getting in on the action as well.

ProTips on how to view the coolest light show of the year and a video from the smart folks at NASA, who when they are not sending robots to perfect 10 landings on another planet, are apparently getting other people to do their more menial tasks — like counting meteors — for them. Nice work if you can get it, right?

Get Out of Dodge: If you can afford to take a little late-night trip and, yes, lose a little sleep, getting away from city lights is going to make the Perseids a much more enjoyable show. Escaping light pollution will make for a lot more visible meteors. I didn't see anything particular set up at the observatory SW of the city but it might be worth while checking it out anyway.

Sunday Funday: This Sunday, August 12th will mark the height of the show, which goes on every year when the Earth passes near the comet Swift-Tuttle.

Coffee. Also, More Coffee: Though you can catch a glimpse of the meteors pretty much anytime after 10 or 11 pm, the best viewing is going to be in the early morning hours, just before dawn. So be prepared to either get up real early, or stay up real late. Hot coco is also nice or some kind of tea. Just something warm to put in your tummy and don't forget some comfy blankets to lay out on. This is one thing that is best enjoyed on your back.

Look to the East. Also, A Little North: The majority of the evening’s shooting stars will seem to radiate from the constellation Perseus. For those of you who (like me) have no idea where to begin looking for that cluster of stars, it is to the northeast. For those of you who (again, like me) have no idea what direction northeast is, your phone probably has a compass that will come in handy.

For more tips, we turn you over to the capable hands and dulcet tones of the professionals at NASA. While you’re watching, the space agency would appreciate if you could count meteors for them to help determine the trajectory of Swift-Tuttle. They’ve even cooked up a smartphone app to make it easy for you — at that point, it’s kind of rude not to lend a hand, right? Right.

 

 

and for a special treat, watch this video!

and then check out this month's Star Chart from the TELUS Spark Science Centre.

(via Space.com, pic via Logan Brumm)

Proposing with Pizza

If you were planning on popping the big question in less than a week on Valentine’s Day, Pizza Hut hopes you’ll turn to them after your significant other says yes for the fanciest engagement party Pizza Hut can provide. For just $10,010, the package comes with all the accoutrement's of an engagement party, including a ruby engagement ring, plus you can look back in fifty years and tell your children about the time Pizza Hut threw you an engagement party.

Along with the ruby engagement ring, Pizza Hut will provide limo service, a fireworks show, flowers, a photographer, a videographer, and a $10 Pizza Hut dinner box. The dinner box includes a medium one-topping rectangular pan pizza, five bread sticks with marinara sauce, and ten cinnamon sticks with a sweet icing cup. On top of the obviously posh engagement party, if the significant other accepts the proposal despite it being a Pizza Hut proposal, Pizza Hut is saying there is a chance to win a wedding at Pizza Hut headquarters. Pizza Hut-themed, of course.

Driving a hard bargain, Pizza Hut has only made 10 of these packages available, and they’re only available until Valentine’s Day of this year. However, there’s a disclaimer saying if the package has not been used by March 31, 2012, Pizza Hut will refund the total cost. Sorry, polygamists, there is only one package allowed per person.

Head on over to Pizza Hut’s deals page to check it out.

OH! and this one is only valid in the US

(Pizza Hut via Eater)

Squrriel

Friday night I went to Kananaskis with my BFF and the wedding party. We stayed at the lodge and basically played the day away well into the night. There was food, drinks and laughs. I laid on the floor for a good 3 hours in total with a belly so full I thought I was going to bust.

And then we needed candy. So we went to the store in the lobby of the lodge. A delicious tourist trap of sorts I was delighted by the tacky collection of... well... crap.

Wine glass in one hand and over priced crap in the other I enjoyed my saunter through the aisles. I bought $40 worth of candy and a Dino coin holder for SL with his name on the front. Drunk shopping at its finest.

a few hours later, my BFF and I decided to go to the games room and play ping pong. While there we came across $4.25 worth of change in the machines. Delighted we giggled in our new found riches and ran up to the tacky little shop in the lobby. I had seen the little fur animals the last time I was there but I was too distracted by "sam-a-sorus" to even consider buying one. I mean, I wasn't going to use my own money on that.

LB and I spent about 20 minutes going over each animal, looking at the price and doing simple math in our heads. We split the $4.25 so we each basically had $2.00 each to spend. LB picked Duck and Cow (both of which were $0.98) and I picked squirrel, who was $1.98

Meet Squirrel:

awwww.. it's so FLUFFY!!!

with in seconds of taking the picture above, something horrible happened. I patted Squirrel on the head and...

his nose fell off! :(

I was so sad.

So I tried to mend poor squirrel...

 Squirrel didn't like that because he could no longer see his nuts.

Egg-stra Special Messages

How fantastic is this little idea?

I have images of hollowed out eggs with special little messages dancing through my head.

This also reminded me of this post from Oh Happy Day! that I ADORE! Favorite creative blog EVER!

hint:

 to properly blow out an egg you need two holes. try to break the yolk with a toothpick and then put your lips of the top of the egg and blow. You should remove most of the gunk from the inside. Rinse, dry and then use.

How to be Interesting

I wrote a post a few years ago when I started to realise that it was more important to be interesting then to be pretty. That the value of the relationships that revolved around being interesting and involved were much more satisfying then those that revolved around being attractive.

I am now officially 32 years old. I am pretty comfortable in my skin and more importantly, I am excited for life. I have a few armfuls of experience under my belt and I feel like I'm just getting started. I don't watch TV at all anymore, I"m not really sure why I did before. I don't even really watch movies.

I cook. I play guitar. I create. I go on adventures and I spend time with friends. I also think, I spent time thinking and figuring.

I came across this article from Forbes about How To Be More Interesting, I think it's great. What do you think?

My mission statement this year is Adventure and Fearlessness. At least it is for now, so lets get her done and become a little more interesting.

Bye-Bye 2011

Bidding farewell to viral news stories of 2011

Nyan Cat

First there was Honey Badger and then there was Nyan Cat, I haven't been able to sleep the last two nights (Yes, I'll blame it on the rainbow farting cat NOT on other such things).

Watch this if you dare:

The Perfect Grilled Cheese

There have been times in my life when I haven't always loved food. Awkward teenage years, angsty young adult years, those younger years when all you want to eat is candy, soap and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Grilled cheese sandwiches. They have always been one of my favorite "go to" foods and maybe one of my first ever food obsessions. the first grilled cheese I can remember were these grilled cheese buns my mum used to make for me as a child. Day old hamburger buns, hot dog buns and dinner rolls would be cut in half with thick slices of aged cheddar shoved in the middle, the outer part of the bun spread thickly with salted butter and then placed on a cookie sheet, it would be sent to the oven to sit under the broiler.

Make sure to put it on the lower part of the oven because it has a tendency to burn quickly. Also, it gives the cheese a chance to melt. The house will smell like baked bread and browning butter-- a beautiful smell if you ask me. My mum would place the grilled cheese bun in front of me, I remember how shinny the top of it would be. She often left it in just a second too long so the top would be just a little too dark. The butter would make that outer crust a little salty and inside, the cheese would be a warm, oozy mess. and I would eat, with a glass of milk beside me, and watch Belle and Sebastian.

**

I came across this post from Closet Cooking about How to Make the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich

nomnomnomn...

Some of Canada's Most Haunted Houses (OK, not really)

 

I've never been the type to shy away from a good ghost story. OR even the type to really believe in ghosts... but I like a good story and I also like to get my freak on so... here is a list of some of the interesting buildings across Canada that you can eat, sleep and shop at.

Calgary's Rouge Restaurant

Think your kitchen’s a nightmare? The staff members at this creepy resto have had to deal with frying pans moving by themselves, doors opening and closing on their own, and multiple ghost sightings, including the figures of former house residents Helen and Nellie Cross.

Rouge; 1240 8 Ave. S.E.; 403-531-2767; www.rougecalgary.com

A post about my LOVE for Rouge

 

Montreal's Notre-Dame-Des-Neiges Cemetery

Send a tingle down your spine exploring the biggest cemetery in Canada. Boasting over one million resting six feet under, this national historic site is crammed with enough mausoleums and headstones to spook you senseless.

Notre-Dame-Des-Neiges Cemetery; www.cimetierenotredamedesneiges.ca  

 

Ottawa's Jail Hostel

Before checking in to this hostel, you better muster up the courage to spend the night in a former cell. Originally the Carleton County Jail, the gruesome inmate mistreatment in this old stone building has resulted in frightful hauntings.

Ottawa Jail Hostel; 75 Nicholas St.; 613-235-2595; www.hihostels.ca.

 

Toronto's Keg Restaurant

Spot one of several resident ghosts lingering around this beautiful steakhouse. Listen for children’s footsteps running around on the creaky second floor or look above the main stairs for a popular ghostly hideout.

The Keg Manson; 515 Jarvis St.; http://www.kegsteakhouse.com/.

 

Vancouver's Gastown

Check out the city’s oldest ‘burb for some paranormal activity. Home to Blood Alley, named after the buckets of blood that landed on these ancient cobblestones by butchers who held business here in the 20th century, this pathway maintains a ghostly energy even today.

Gastown, www.gastown.org.

**

I know that there are spookier places in this young country of ours, but this was a pre-built list and I was feeling a little lazy today. PLUS, I was impressed with the Ottawa's Jailhouse Hostel. Looks fun! I'm not a big believer in ghosts (I'm too skeptical for that, I'm sorry. I do believe in Santa though. OK, not really) but, like I said above... I love a good story, I adore history and everyone once in a while I try and let my mind go blank and believe in things like spooky stories and magic.

Is there a spooky place in your area that gives you goose bumps every time you walk past?

Halloween Costumes for Two

You can go with the traditional Sonny and Cher, Antony and Cleopatra, Sid and Nancy, Plug and Socket (this list goes on and on), but if you are a part of a twosome this Hallow’s Eve, why not go for something quirky and different? Here are ten great ideas to ensure you have couples everywhere slapping their heads in the proverbial “why didn’t I think of that” gesture.

1. Jay-Z and Pregnant Beyonce – Pick your favorite looks from the reigning King and Queen of music. Double points if you add the baby bump and wear anything from House of Dereon.

2. Boris and Natasha – From Rocky and Bullwinkle!

3. Go as each other – This idea only works when you attend a party with mutual friends who get the joke, but it just requires switching wardrobes and adopting your significant others’ charming mannerisms.

4. A pair of blue jeans - You both just need all blue attire and name tags that say “Gene” and “Jean” respectively. Inexpensive, clever and perfect for the guy who isn’t into costumes.

5. Lady Gaga and Jo Calderone - Great for the girl who wanted to do this look solo, great for the guy who just wants to dress like Danny Zuko.

6. Jake Ryan and Sam Baker – 16 Candles anyone? A letterman’s jacket and an awful 80′s bridesmaid’s dress is all you need to make this throwback costume golden!

7. Quailman and Patty Mayonnaise – Everyone’s favorite cartoon duo brought back to life! Pink polka dots for her and underwear on the outside of the khakis for him. For you third wheel friend, Skeeter Valentine is a great addition. Awwww.. love the show Doug.

8. Double Rainbow – The YouTube sensation comes to life when you construct two rainbow costumes. One smaller so one person can crouch down to make the perfect photo op.

9. Carmen Sandiego and a Globe (or map) – Won’t take a gumshoe to figure out that this idea is pretty great. Or she looks pretty good with Waldo too.

10. Jack and Sally – From Tim Burton’s most successful animated film, The Nightmare Before Christmas. This one is for real Halloween enthusiasts because it involves make-up and pretty specific attire.

You can also add “Zombie” in front of any and all couple costume ideas (much like adding “in bed” at the end of any cookie fortune) and it totally works. Zombie Ken and Barbie, Zombie Romeo and Juliet, Zom-bee’s (Zombie Bee’s) are just a few of the endless possibilities.

Affordable Adventure

Hotel Penang, in Malaysia

Here is a list of the worlds best new affordable hotels and here is the enticing slide show.

Who wants to go on an adventure with me?

(and you think I'm kidding... I'm not)

**


A slice of my Adventure Bucket List... it keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger

My Summer Bucket List almost completed, next step... fall/winter

Salt and Pepper 'Bots

how do we not all have these?

Salt and Pepper 'bots = awesome sauce!

Spring Flowers in Australia

As the days get shorter, the nights get cooler and the leaves on the trees go from green to amber to dead; we in Canada get ready for winter (did I use the semi-colon right? I read this and think I understood it but I'm not 100% sure. Dino's party gorillas and other such wonderful things distract me). That's a different story on the other side of the world, in Australia, where my blogging friend Rolley lives, it's the (pun intended) polar opposite. He just posted this wonderful little diddy about the flowers in spring. Being a nature geek (or really, just a big ol' geek), I love it. Two years ago, we had an exceptionally rainy summer in Calgary which in turn, created lush, flora rich forests. I have never seen so many flowers as I did that year; I have also never seen so many mushrooms. I had the wonderful ambition to write about every species of plant I found but I never got around to writing the posts about them. It was time consuming and the last thing this girl wants to do in the summer is spend copious amounts of time in front of the glitter box computer.

One of my favorite parts of visiting Maui was learning about all the nature I had never in my life EVER experienced. It was an exceptional experience for me, it inspired me to want to move there, pretend I was 23 and study it all at the university. Looking at Rolley's post does a similar thing to me. Australia is so unique from the rest of the world that I am dying to explore, though I'm scared of the spiders. I would have commented on his post but for some reason my blogger profile won't let me. It keeps signing me out, so I thought I'd give him a little shout out and post openly about my feeling for his post.

Good post Rolley, I want to see more! I want to smell the sarsaparilla bottle brush flower too!

[picture credit]

Slow Down and Look Around

Today is Tuesday but it feels like Monday. I'm tired. Restless. A usual feeling that I get every 6 months or so. The "now what should I work on" feeling. My only goal for today is to make it through the day and drink lots of water. Also, I need to get my car insurance figured out. I called my supplier and I need to go home and check somethings over before I can get a discounted rate. So right now I have expensive rate. Very expensive rate. Oh well, it is what it is. I have a car right now and that's good. It's also insure and that's even better. I just want to drive it all the time because I feel so independent. My car. My life. Where can I go, what can I do? Who can I see.

I need something to work on. I'm winning at everything right now except for work. I've been working hard but my heart isn't in it. I've been applying for jobs but somethings just aren't what I'm looking for. I guess, I need to outline what it is that I am looking for and go with that. There was an intriguing job at a publishing company that sounds right up my alley but the thing is, I don't really like the hours. Yes, I know.. picky picky. But... it's my job and my life and it's not that interesting that I'd give up my weekends. We'll see. I might still apply for it. There is a lot of remote work that I can do, I just don't know how much "being stuck to the computer" there would be. Mind you, when I look on the website it says this:

Hours

Wednesday from noon - 4pm

Open First Thursdays from 4-9pm

other days by appointment

It's working with a well to do magazine publishing company. We will see, I will try... can't hurt, right? It's still downtown too.

I also would like a trip to plan, but I don't want to start doing that until January. It feel like there is a lot up in the air. I'm kind of waiting on this thing and that. Lots of things just slowly getting established and I don't want to disturb the balance.

I went for a run yesterday, my ankles and knees have been feeling better for a while. Today, I am sore. It feels good but bad. I feel like I worked out muscles I haven't worked out in months. In a way, I'm a little embarrassed with myself. It felt good to run and I don't know how many more running days there will be. I should be a little more disciplined and do yoga at home rather than spending the money on going to a studio. Just the studio keeps me active and motivated. When I go yoga at home I only do a half ass job and then I eat chocolate chips in between poses. Not the proper yogi way.

I hate to complain about this but I'm really dreading winter. I'm not sure why... I guess it just seems too long and dead. My life is going well, aside from work, and I'm happy. Summer was dreamy and so enjoyable. Everyone tends to hibernate in winter and I don't like that. I'm curious what I'm going to do this winter. Will I be as active as I have been in previous year? I like being around active people but it kind of feels like I'm running out of ideas. Yesterday I went to Tubby Dog and tried to play Ping ball and the game was gone. All they had was Ms. Pacman and Frogger. My skills were judged for sure. The hot dogs aren't the same there either, I'm pretty sure they'd kill me for saying this but... Ikea hot dogs are better. And cheaper.

I guess my game plan for this week is:

-clean out my closet and get rid of the stuff I don't wear

-do a little yoga

-figure out activities for the winter

-work on my resume

-Spend time with my lovelies

-figure out a game plan for the car

I've also been waking up at 3AM for a few hours and then falling back asleep. Not sure what's going on there but I'd like that to stop. I think I might also look for a black-out curtain or something. The building next to me changed their security light so it shines a bright, bright light into my bedroom. My curtains are light so it does a really good job of magnifying the light. I think I might have to use my creative brain for this one. Or just hang a blanket over it. I don't know...

I've also been mastering a huge crush this month. That's difficult. My last relationship was such a rush-into-things kind of thing that it's weird to be moving at a natural pace. We have just started peeling back the layers of our past over the last week. Little by little I am telling him who I am. He doesn't even blink. I think the thing that took him by surprise the most was telling him about my first relationship and how we were just the best of friends who held hands. 6 years of hand holding. Everything else doesn't phase him. I'm really enjoying how things are unfolding between us. Though I sometimes think I talk to much and ask too many questions.

So that's about it. Things are going well, this week. Aside from my man crush, all my favorite boys are out of town in various areas. *sigh. I am happy to have a few of my GF's to talk to. Even a few of them are away though, but they'll be coming back soon. This is my time to regroup and get things in order for the next wave of fun.

On Thursday I am jamming with the old "new band". I've learnt all my songs and am ready. I call it Peanut Butter Jam Time. It's been so long since I've made music with other people, I am stoked! I also can't wait to get my new guitar. I am sick of playing on guitar #2, the hand me down that I restrung over the summer. It sounds better than my first guitar but it's still not great. Next big purchase. I also need to get my Dad's birthday set up and also Christmas List happening.

The year is finishing off soon. Who knows what tomorrow brings!

Planning my Best Friend's Wedding

As I mentioned before, my BFF in the whole wide world is getting married. I've appointed myself Maid of Honor (I'm so bossy) and have taken the task underhand. I don't know anything about weddings and that's OK. This is a small one. LB and CK's closest friends and relatives, coming together in celebration. I get all misty eyed just thinking about it.

• On Friday we are heading out to my families country house to see if that would be a good location. It's free and it's in the mountains. Lots of space for dogs and people.

• I will be making the wedding cake *eeek! Not sure why kind to make.. I have to start practicing now.

• I will be taking Laura out to get fitted for her very special Wedding Jeans.

• I also plan to arrange for my lovely and very talented friend Sam Livermore to do photography.

This is so exciting! It's like my baby sister is getting married but really, it's my best friend. Best of both worlds!

*love

**

I don't think about weddings that much. When my good friend Rheann got married last year, that was the first time I really started thinking about it. In my mind, it shouldn't be that big of a deal. A perfect party for everyone to celebrate love. That's about it. One should not go into debt over it, one should not focus more attention on the wedding then on who you are marrying.

I want to get married, or have a union or something. I want to share my life with someone like minded. Someone who loves and lives the same as I do. I don't care if it's a destination wedding or a small thing at the country house or my parents backyard. I'd like the dress but I don't need it. I do want a good photographer. I want dancing, live music, an open bar and good food. I want just my family and closest friends there. I want the man of my dreams to be there, standing tall, without a hesitation in his heart. Proud to have me in his life just as I am proud to have him in mine. I want to see love and kindness in his eyes. I want only tears of job.

That's my dream wedding.

Big Boy Mac-n-Cheese

About 5 years ago Mac-n-Cheese was a huge trend. I tried it in a few places and got sick of it really fast. It's just always missing something and now  think I know what it is. It's missing meat. I found this recipe on one of my Internet journeys and thinks is sounds creative enough to be actually be good.

Big Boy Mac-N-Cheese from Hole-in-the-Wall Smokehouse BBQ at Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak.

Ingredients
1 cup beer
2 cups heavy cream
1 tbsp chopped garlic
2 cups grated medium cheddar cheese
3 cups cooked elbow pasta
½ cup cooked and chopped bacon
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation
Bring beer to a simmer. Add chopped garlic and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add heavy cream and let it simmer again. Add pasta. Let pasta cook for 1-2 minutes, then add cheese. Melt together for 3-4 minutes, then add bacon bits. Remove from heat and season to taste. Serve immediately.