Monday, April 30, 2012

New friends

My grandfather's a pretty tech-savvy dude. He knew what Skype was before the rest of us did, and was sending me text-to-voicemail messages before I even knew it was possible. I still don't know how to do it.

But he never thought there was any reason to join Facebook, calling it a waste of time.

This weekend, I got a friend request from my grandfather -- who turns 90 this summer. I haven't talked to him yet to find out what changed his mind, but there's something so wonderful about seeing a 1922 birthday on a profile page. So I had to share.

I can only hope when I'm going-on-90, I'm as on top of the latest technology and happenings and whatnot as he is. Wicked cool.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Coffee in Brazil

I have a Fancy New Car -- who has yet to be named -- after Webster valiantly protected me from a collision several months ago.

This new car has many cool things going for it, one of which is satellite radio. Another is BlueTooth. Now normally, I'm not someone who gets all excited about car radios or hands-free technology, or even technology at all, but this morning -- while I was calculating how long it would be until the free satellite radio ran out and I would once again be denied Big Band tunes and commercial-free commutes -- I had an epiphany.

At traffic lights, I fiddled with my phone and with my radio. And right as I got to work, I discovered this: I am able to stream my favorite radio station through my phone and listen to it through my speakers, despite the fact that I'm three states away.

I only got to hear two songs this morning, but they were coffee-themed and adorable. And so I went into work this morning grinning, and humming about coffee in Brazil.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Take a gander

On my way home from work yesterday, I saw two geese. Crossing the street. In a crosswalk.

The first one to get to the curb nibbled on some grass before hopping up and out of the way.

It was predictably adorable.

Also? There's a swath of road on my way home that smells amazing. I don't know what kind of flowers or trees or naturey goodness is planted there, but it's delicious and immersive. So I always make sure to go by with my windows down.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

First world problem

I was expecting nice, sunny, warm weather while in Zurich. Instead, it's cold and rainy. Rain can ruin fun. It can ruin plans. Plans like going hiking on a glacier.

I might have to go to Paris for 3 days instead of staying in Switzerland because the weather in Paris is (allegedly) lovely right now, and will be for the next week or so.

Darn.

(Aside: the trip to Paris would be with the boyfriend, and we'd be there on our one year anniversary. Awwwwww.)

Friday, April 6, 2012

Afterlife

It's a sad start to a happy story, but in this column, a Toronto Star reporter met Shelagh Gordon at her funeral. The columnist describes Shelagh's as an ordinary, magical life -- and I think her description is apt.

The writing itself is straightforward and lovely, but it's the person who Shelagh was that is most extraordinary. Because -- pardon me for being philosophical -- it's the person who all of us are. She didn't invent anything extraordinary; she didn't save the world. She just made a difference to a lot of other ordinary people.

And it's the project itself that put a smile on my face. The Toronto Star sent reporters to Shelagh's funeral, and interviewed more than 100 of her friends and family members about her life.

It's ambitious, and difficult, and it could have gone a lot of different ways. But the story it tells is a strong one. It's how Shelagh will live on for her family, for her friends.

There are a lot of thoughts rattling around in my brain about the idea of meeting someone four days too late (as the columnist describes it), or the joy and sorrow of writing about someone after they've died. But I'll leave them to rattle and instead encourage you to read this lovely profile and be your own "good deed doer... tradition keeper... moral compass," or whatever it is you are. And thanks to all of you for the smiles you give.