Nexus

There's Everybody Else (and then there's you) by Steve Forbert

VERSE
There’s everybody else and then there’s you
When everybody fades you’re so true blue
I’m standing in a crowd but that won’t do
There’s everybody else and then there’s you.
VERSE
There’s everybody else and then there’s you
It’s everybody’s world and timeframe too
Your moments to yourself, they’re burnt down few
There’s everybody else and then there’s you.
BRIDGE
Everybody thinks that their burden is the heaviest
(Oh) yes indeed they do
Everybody thinks that their trouble’s worse than all the rest
Them feels it knows what’s true.
VERSE
There’s everybody else and then there’s you
When everybody’s cracked you’ve stuck like glue
When everybody breaks you’re so brand new
There’s everybody else and then there’s you
(INSTRUMENTAL BREAK)
VERSE
Yours is a face and a grace from the 1950s
Yours is a wine from a vine of a long-gone time
Yours is a blast from the past blowin’ right down with me
Yours is a case I can trace back a long loud line . . .
INSTRUMENTAL BREAK)
(REPEAT BRIDGE)
VERSE
There’s everybody else and then there’s you
The skies have gotten dark but you’ll shine through
I’m standing at the gate the last plane’s due
There’s everybody else and then there’s you
There’s everybody else and then there’s you
There’s everybody else and then there’s you
Steve Forbert
Welk Music (ASCAP)/Rolling Tide Music (ASCAP)

Weekend

Is it just me, or does everyone find it hard to find the time to post when the weather gets nice? The weather this weekend was wonderful - perfect for being outside. Today I had a huge long list of things to do - I pretty well fit them in although I would have liked to take a second bike ride this evening - that I didn't manage to fit in.

I went for an early morning bike ride along the river path, then came home and washed my car - inside and out. Finally got the winter salt off of it and the inside freshened up. I had a great work out at the gym and did a bit of shopping. Chores, laundry and even a nap.

We have to pack so much into our weekends it seems - especially in the summer.

Yesterday was also great - I went downtown where crowds of people were happily out and about taking advantage of good weather.

Last night we went to a local Toronto bar called 'Hugh's Room' to see <a href="http://www.steveforbert.com">Steve Forbert</a>. He put on an amazing show - go and see him if you ever get the chance. The website I've linked to includes his concert calendar - mainly dates in the southern USA. Steve is from Mississippi. We saw him a year ago - while we enjoyed him last year, his show was less than inspired. The show last night was brilliant - he was inspired. Many of the songs were from a CD he has just released - they were very good. I bought the CD and am looking forward to listening to it.

Not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow - weekends are precious and go by far too quickly.

High Protein Pancakes

I made some really interesting pancakes for dinner tonight ..... I spotted this recipe in a fitness magazine last weekend and planned to pick up the ingredients. What caught my eye - the full recipe yields 68g of protein and less than 400 calories. The recipe made 2 pancakes - I ate 1.5 - I walked for an hour after dinner - that was about 5 hours ago and I am still stuffed.

They have an interesting taste and texture. I think they have possibilities to eat cold as leftovers and I think you could almost make a sandwich with them. As I mentioned the recipe yielded two - next time I make them, I will make them much thinner as I think that change would improve the texture. This seems like great fuel for a day of cycling, skiing or a long run.

Ingredients -

1 cup of egg whites (this took around 7 eggs)
1/4 cup instant oats (I actually used a package of instant oatmeal cereal)
1 scoop of protein powder (I used vanilla whey, probably just over 1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons ground flax (this was not called for but I decided to add for the omega oils)

Mix it all up, pour a layer into a small, greased (butter is best) frying pan and cook over medium heat. Because of the high egg white content they cook quite quickly. The eggs give them a really moist texture. They were quite good cold. I served mine with fruit - strawberries and blueberries - banana would be good and so would maple syrup.

One of those days ...

It has been one of those days where you know, work just sucks! Did I say I love my job - well only 95% of the time and today fell into the other 5%.

Not only that, everything else sucks as well.
And all my muscles hurt. Even the cats are keeping their distance.

My normal sunny mood returns tomorrow I hope. Oh - I did try my new running shoes out tonight - they get thumbs up. And it is a short week. And Calgary won the first game in the Stanley Cup round. (yes - we still play hockey in June)

Something to look forward to - I am going to my first cricket game. After living in the Caribbean for two years and refusing all invitations to watch cricket, I have decided it is high time I understood this sport that so many of my friends love. Canada does have a cricket team that competes at the pro level (who would have thought?) My Trini friend has a friend on the team and we will go cheer him on - this makes me happy.

Reunions

I had a great surprise tonight - I received a call from a school chum - we went to school together more years ago than I care to mention. I see one school friend every now and again - I went all through school with the hygenist at my dentist's office. She always catches me up on whatever news she has. But there is an informal reunion this Saturday. A group of 15 or so of my old school mates are getting together. Now I am pretty busy on Saturday but I will definitley be carving out an hour to go and say hello to everyone. I understand they are talking about a trip to Vegas for next year's reunion - I've never wanted to go to Vegas but with this group I might even consider that. What fun that would be.

Holiday

It is 'Victoria Day' weekend in Canada and a holiday from work. This day has many traditions - for some it is the first weekend to open up the cottage, for others a camping weekend and still others the first big gardening weekend of the season. I stayed in town this weekend and joined the many at garden centres. It was rainy but finally cleared up in the afternoon. At one point I was out planting in the rain. Right now it is beautiful - clear and breezy. I will be meeting David shortly for a run. This will be his first run after the marathon and he is still feeling quite inspired by his great race.

More Rain

In spite of the bad weather, the weekend has been flying by. Luckily this is a long weekend and we have tomorrow off as well. I had brunch with the girls today. We don't see eachother as often as we would like - today was a birthday celebration which is always a nice excuse to meet up. Afterwards I went with Sharon to feed the cats that she is minding while the owner is on vacation - all six of them. That was certainly entertaining. I always think two is a lot - imagine six cats in one house.

The rest of the day was lazy. Some reading, TV, laundry and listening to the rain.

Saturday

This is odd, odd weather. Cold and rainy today. Good weather for running and we had a great, long run this morning - I actually felt quite good running after having terrible runs all week.

This afternoon I put on jeans and fleece and headed to 'Bloor West Village' with Susanne. This is the European district of Toronto - it is full of great fruits & veggie stores, wonderful little shops selling pastries and several really good clothing boutiques. If you are looking for a great, unique little something to wear - this is the neighbourhood. Bought a fabulous swirly skirt from London. Had a great look around but froze - it is cold out!

We then went to see 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'. Hmmmm - disappointing. Everything I had heard about this movie made me think I would love it. I was prepared to laugh and cry. Neither. We looked at eachother when the movie ended and said 'well what was that'. It was well acted but I thought dull.

We emerged from the theatre to a huge rainstorm - lightning as well. I actually had both the seat heaters and regular heat turned on .... on this Victoria Day Weekend - the first long weekend of summer.

On a brighter note - my whole house smells like lilacs - I came home from the run in the park today with an arm load of lilacs. I also bought my first strawberries of the season (not local of course) - and had them mashed up with sugar and fresh yogurt - yum. If it can't feel like summer outside, at least I can have lilacs and strawberries in the house!

'Almost' by Sarah Harmer

This is a beautiful song .... her <a href="http://www.sarahharmer.com/">website</a> has a free listen.

Almost
by Sarah Harmer

I almost dialed your number,
Well I thought the coast was clear
cause it's looked up for so long at me,
And said call me please.

But the place was closing,
the countergirl turned to sign, the cooks
were getting their coats
and I got mine,
and said goodnight to the scene of empty seats.

(Chorus)
And if I am a sailor,
you are the warm gulf wind,
and you've blown into this little port
and roused my dreams again.

I see my mouth moving when I talk to you,
I do,
I see my lips and I feel like a kid
who can't keep something in.
Cause I blunder the paper you were writing on
you left your impression long after you'd gone
on me,
marks only I can see.

(Chorus)

When we say sometime later,
you know that we don't say when,
You have into this little port
and roused my dreams again.

I almost dialed your number,
Well I thought the coast was clear
cause it's looked up for so long at me,
And said call me please.

(Chorus)

When we say sometime later,
you know that we don't say when,
You have into this little port
and roused my dreams again.
Roused my dreams.

Sailor to wind...

Bring on the Next Vacation

I love having a vacation and especially a trip to look forward to .... and I have one planned for August with my friend Susanne. This first started out as a potential camping trip, which morphed to a road trip and finally we got the idea of a cottage rental. We live in an area where there are cottage/resort areas in all directions within an easy 2-3 hour drive.

The research was fun. We looked at many web sites trying to find the perfect spot. I tried to picture myself relaxing at each of the cottages we looked at - this was easier at some than others. If I couldn't see myself there, I moved on to the next. We had it narrowed down to 3-4 cottages as serious contenders. Of course some of these were already booked for the week we had chosen.

Then we found <a href="http://www.cottagesincanada.com/ferncliff/default.asp?lang=e">'Ferncliff'</a>. And it all fell into place. I loved the romance of the place - built for a Victorian poet. How cool is that. I also happen to know that this area has a great cycling path along the St Lawrence Seaway. It is in the '1000 Islands' area. One of the islands in this area even has its own <a href="http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/3702/boldt1.html">castle with a unique romantic history</a>.

So if I live through the next couple of months at work - and I sometimes wonder if this project is going to kill me - I have a great week at Ferncliff to look forward to.