tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58000262012-02-19T11:21:09.949-05:00"Beautiful but hostile"Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-5417711156960997622011-01-27T09:28:00.000-05:002011-01-27T09:28:46.281-05:00

Well, so much for my year of sipping lattes and blogging blithely while my angel baby suckles, snuggled in his organic cotton wrap carrier. That's not exactly how being a new mother has worked out, at least for me! Reality check: sleep deprivation, bottle refusal, cluster nursing, blocked ducts, diaper blowouts, sippy cup refusal. Yeah, that's for realz. Also for realz: sloppy baby kisses,

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-71775923720658795462010-07-08T15:40:00.001-04:002010-07-08T15:44:30.165-04:00

I recently read an article called "Motherhood: The new oppression" by Margaret Wente. You know, there's nothing more dull and unoriginal than a Boomer whinging about how much better things were back in her day. But by modern standards [my mother] was a mediocre parent. She smoked. She drank. She drove us around without seatbelts, while she smoked. ... Now we know better. The obligations of

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-77823958311396581112010-05-31T20:40:00.001-04:002010-05-31T20:40:34.608-04:00

Is there anything sweeter than baby feet?

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-71061741331672087562010-05-09T06:09:00.000-04:002010-05-09T06:13:05.244-04:00

Today is my first Mother's Day as a mother. I'm a little bummed that it doesn't look like anyone is planning anything special for me. CV was sick most of the week with a tooth infection, and it was all he could do to go to work every day. My mom was at a conference most of the week, too. I feel like I do most of the planning every year to do something for my mom, but since this is my first

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-83746183402844435222010-04-28T14:55:00.000-04:002010-04-28T14:58:15.884-04:00

On our way home, and Baby R is sleeping again, yippee!We made it almost all the way to the office before he woke up on the bus. He made like to fuss, but I gave him a pacifier, and he took it. Plus, since we were early, I had time to feed him and change his diaper before my coworkers got back from lunch. Good thing, too, because he had an explosive poo while I was feedn him, and it went all the

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-68817563461839084582010-04-28T12:22:00.001-04:002010-04-28T12:22:58.129-04:00

I'm on my way to take Baby R to visit my work. It's 45 minutes away by subway and bus. You have no idea how stressed I am right now. He's asleep, but for how long? There is no "safe" place to bf if he wakes up and demands boob. I would have to whip it out right here on the subway, or get off and feed him in the station. I'd have to do the latter if we're near our station already; get off there,

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-48443287624651830362010-04-26T01:57:00.000-04:002010-04-27T02:00:59.823-04:00

Nobody ever had a baby because they wanted to be appreciated... by the baby. In terms of being thanked by the person you're waiting on hand and foot, mothering a newborn is the most thankless job on the planet. Or so it would seem. Tonight I put Baby R down for the night before he was asleep and left the room. I did this the night before and for naps today, and I discovered that he will go to

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-50669104510695178102010-04-25T11:53:00.000-04:002010-04-25T11:55:03.282-04:00

I've been trying out a couple of blogging apps. I tried Blogium, which isn't bad, but it's limited in what it can do. You can't add tags to your posts, for example. I would recommed it to a blogging newbie, but not a vet. Also, it's a little buggy. It crashed on me a couple of times. I'm writing this post with BlogPress. So far it seems pretty good. I'll have to try posting photos and video

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-8513479896883475202010-04-22T00:37:00.001-04:002010-04-24T21:44:29.783-04:00

The Canucks might be Canada's only hope. And they're not even Canadian.

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-68031777167989450372010-04-19T19:12:00.000-04:002010-04-24T21:44:38.375-04:00

So Baby R -- a.k.a. Milk Monster, a.k.a. Milkface -- has been attached to my boob seemingly once an hour for the past two days and part of the nights, too. And it's not the blissful, peaceful nursing you see in baby stock photography where a cherubic infant nurses serenely while gazing deeply into his lovely, white-gowned, perfectly made-up, perfectly coiffed mama's eyes while they cuddle

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-12623145372585465802010-04-17T14:46:00.000-04:002010-04-17T14:46:00.503-04:00

I can haz crotchfruit? Apparently, yes. It wasn't easy getting preggers, but after 20 months and several thousand dollars, CV and I finally managed it (thanks, Modern Technology!). The result is the insanely cute bouncing Baby R:  Mmm... this DNA cocktail is pretty tasty, if I do say so myself. Those cheeks! So nommable! Nom, nom, nom... Needless to say, I'm totally smitten. And because he's

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-48466460813684529242008-12-15T10:37:00.034-05:002010-04-24T21:44:53.770-04:00

Do you remember reading that book when you were a kid? A Floridian woman on Ravelry asked a bunch of us international bitches if we'd like to have a visit from Stanley for her daughter's school project. So Stanley landed in my mailbox in Toronto, via Nova Scotia, last week.Last Saturday, I took Stan around with me as I did my Xmas shopping. I was on a mission not only to show Stan the sights, but

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-34489574121038442482008-12-04T16:11:00.001-05:002008-12-04T16:15:10.713-05:00

Re. GG Agrees to Suspend ParliamentDear Mr. Dion and Mr. Layton,I must say that I have not been this upset about a political situation in my own country since I was an idealistic university student during the Mike Harris years. Unfortunately, the recent situation in Parliament has resurrected those old feelings of outrage.Before the Governor General’s decision today to grant Prime Minister

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-62367456088440664822008-09-05T17:06:00.004-04:002008-09-05T17:31:46.756-04:00

Yesterday, I had the privilege of being present for the birth of my first niece, Ayla! I was my sister's support person during the birth, along with her husband. At 4:00 in the afternoon on September 3, my brother-in-law called me and said that my sister was in labour. Due to a certain medical condition, my sis already had an epidural in by the time I arrived at the hospital at 4:45. At that time

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-5763469132997252382008-08-28T10:46:00.004-04:002008-08-28T11:03:23.739-04:00

Good Magazine recently published an article about why we should finally stop teaching The Catcher in the Rye in schools. Then Gawker weighed in with a disingenuous rebuttal. I'm happy to see that at least someone is having this discussion. I have always hated The Catcher in the Rye with the flaming passion of a thousand fiery suns. Even today, seeing that solid red cover with gold type makes me

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-53941649820331450202008-07-31T10:08:00.004-04:002008-07-31T10:17:27.643-04:00

This, apparently, is a pole. Just in case, ya know, you were wondering.

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-65245931234010943932008-06-26T16:08:00.003-04:002008-06-26T16:17:52.633-04:00

A friend of mine just emailed me to tell me how much money my dad makes. The gov't publishes a list of public servants who make over $100,000 per year. I knew he made 6 figures, but I didn't know the exact number until now. Judging by what she said, by the time he retires in maybe 5 years, he will probably be making a quarter of a million dollars a year. Back when I was a kid missing meals

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-69224334374881248132008-06-08T16:22:00.002-04:002008-06-08T16:33:42.352-04:00

OK, I'm not actually excited, I'm actually bored, sitting here at Ottawa airport. At least I have my iPod touch to amuse me. That's how I'm posting this. Whee! I've just spent the weekend here, visiting friends. I wish I had some pictures to post, but my camera is crapola now, you're outta luck.Anyway, what can I say? We spent a laid-back weekend walking around town getting sunburned in the 30

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-40206981813345217052008-04-16T11:55:00.004-04:002008-04-16T12:01:16.734-04:00

From the Healthy Child article "Is There a Healthier Plastic Container?": According to a report in the Christian Science Monitor, a line of corn-based plastics, called polylactides (PLA), has recently been developed by Cargill and Dow Chemical and is used to package products such as bottled water, electronics, and cups.I'm concerned that now that the Canadian government and governments in other

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-60995679483612682522008-04-10T11:17:00.003-04:002008-04-10T11:19:44.629-04:00

Even though Mr. Pandora and I are ttc (trying to conceive), I don't really think I'm the typical maternal type (or stereotypical maternal type, I should say). Like the kind of woman you look at and talk to and just KNOW that someday she'll have a bunch of kids and totally love being a mom. As a kid, I played with Transformers, not baby dolls. I feel awkward when I hold a baby, and I suck at

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-14016885873921213402008-03-25T14:34:00.002-04:002008-03-25T14:54:31.013-04:00

In the Charo bracket today, Bai goes up against Kelly, and Tara throws down with Daniel. Bai and her 17 skankily-dressed personalities totally demolish Kelly's sweetly unsuspecting fugliness. There's "not knowing any better" and then there's "knowing better but showing your cooch in public anyway." Speaking of cooch... whoops, no fair. Tara hasn't done half as much as Bai to draw our attention to

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-4921343125135870152008-03-24T14:27:00.002-04:002008-03-24T15:13:12.991-04:00

Fug Madness is still raging over at Go Fug Yourself. In the Charo Bracket today, we have Chloe vs Mary-Kate and Phobe vs Alicia. Chole vs. MK is a seriously hard choice. However, I have to hand it to MK. They both look baggy, disheveled, wan, pissed off and bored in almost every single outfit, but MK also throws in unwashed, racoon-eyed, hunchbacked, stoned and starving to round things out very

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-58078689341637654192008-03-20T16:00:00.002-04:002008-03-20T16:14:26.226-04:00

March Madness? Who cares? I'm Canadian. To me, March is the month when the Leafs make one final desperate, futile attempt to claw their way into the last available playoff spot... and fail miserably.Luckily, to cheer me up this year, I have Fug Madness over at Go Fug Yourself. The Cher Bracket, Round One. Linday Lohan vs Courtney Peldon, Rhianna vs Sandra Oh, Fergie vs. Brad Pitt and Nelly

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-89994944510641149772008-03-10T18:06:00.007-04:002008-03-10T18:13:11.773-04:00

I'm out of town right now, so I hope to have some good photos of my trip to post later. In the meantime, here's a music video by a friend of ours, Dave Celia. The story behind it is that he had originally been hoping to get a grant from Videofact to shoot this, but they rejected him (again). So he made this with $1500 of his own money.This was a featured video on YouTube for a couple of days, and

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-36798213513795039572008-03-05T08:22:00.006-05:002008-03-05T09:35:30.177-05:00

Hate you, winter!I can't remember the last winter when there was this much snow over so many months. Blah! Sometimes I wish I could pick Toronto up and plunk it in the middle of the Caribbean. Then it would truly be the perfect place to live!But no. This is my reality.Le sigh.The really depressing thing is that there might be another storm on Friday, which is when my mom, my SO and I are supposed

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-42234332862749542012008-03-05T07:38:00.006-05:002008-03-05T09:37:03.561-05:00

Speaking of creatures I have an inexplicable affection for, I live with my SO. He works at the LCBO. For the non-Canadians among you, that's the government agency that runs Ontario's chain of liquor stores. In Ontario, you can only by liquor at LCBO stores (and beer at The Beer Store).Anyway, here's a peek at how my SO's mind works. He was recently at a training seminar where they sample new

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-42354168116448152672008-02-27T14:11:00.005-05:002008-02-27T14:52:36.192-05:00

Someone on the Etsy forums posed a simple question: "Who loves cats, and why?" Good question. I love cats, especially my cat, naturally. She's the sixth cat I've ever owned, although it's more like she owns me. I am her bitch. This is the culprit: Raven. You may say, "The word culprit implies guilt. What is sweet little Raven guilty of?" Well... everything, basically. She gnaws through the wires

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-83788031563385236542008-02-26T11:28:00.006-05:002008-02-26T12:03:05.354-05:00

Imagine a talented young man who appeared in several Hollywood movies, often alongside Oscar-winning actors, has died from an accidental drug overdose at the tender age of 25. Now imagine that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences claims they couldn't find 10 seconds in a memorial montage that featured PR execs and studio bigwigs that the general public has never heard of to remember

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-26977278738066289082008-02-22T11:09:00.004-05:002008-02-22T11:47:03.880-05:00

A day after the fire on Queen St., there is just a hole where Duke's cycle shop used to be. If I remember right, there was a dollar store next to it that has also burned to the ground. You can see that the apartments that backed onto it from Richmond St. are completely gutted.It really is a sorry thing to stand in the cold and stare at the remains of something you walked by every day and

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800026.post-91840351175997186612008-02-21T11:20:00.006-05:002008-02-21T11:46:01.141-05:00

Yesterday, a fire destroyed most of a city block at Queen and Bathurst, near my house. I took a few shots on my way to work.This shot was taken standing at the corner of Queen and Ryerson, just across the street, at a little after 8 A.M. When I first went to my walkout at the top of my house at 6:30, I had been able to see flames shooting into the sky. You can see that the most intense flames are

Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278317363624344534noreply@blogger.com1