Fall

I am sitting at Cafe Myriade sipping on a chocolat chaud au lait hanging out with my roomie Mr. Lincoln before we had to our Music History class. It's Myriade's 1st birthday and in honor of being in business for this long they've been offering all drinks for half price, it's really busy but the atmosphere is lively and happy.

Fall is in full swing and I am wondering where exactly October has disappeared to. Living downtown has cut me off from the abundance of multi-colored leaves in my suburban hometown. But I still go home every friday to babysit the munchkins which is when I get to soak up all my outdoorsy time.

Midterms are well underway, and I still have one paper left to write on Bach's Cello Suites .

Tomorrow afternoon I will teaching Mr. Lincoln how to make his own pie dough for apple pie, it should be quite fun. And then I have the apartment to myself until sunday.

Mlle. Lincoln

Addendum

Wow did that sound weepy.

Actually I am in a pretty good mood, enjoying Fall in montreal.

Love,

Mlle Lincoln

Public Secrets

After seeing these two postcards (1 and 2 ) on PostSecret I thought: hey this person is me. I often find secrets there that strike a chord in that little place I've tried to lock up, called my heart. But this week, the one with "I still think we are destined for each other...you idiot" really had me nodding my head in agreement. I know for a fact if any of my nearest and dearest are reading this they are going "Oh hell no..."

It is sort of comforting to know that someone else is thinking the EXACT same words as me. I know that most of the time you can not go back and start with a fresh slate, it just doesn't work that way...but perhaps this person like me wonders what it would be like if you could.

I wish I could give this stranger a hug, tell them I get it....

I totally get it.

Stepping out of the Nonage*

September has flown by much more quickly then I would have liked, but it usually feels like that because of the Jewish high holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur).

I can hardly believe I have been living in this apartment for almost a month! So far, I have mostly good things to say about living away from home with a roommate, although every few days I feel a little lonely for my family but I am sure that feeling will fade. I absolutely love being a five minute walk from school and no more than a 20 minute walk from work, it feels great. I have to say I am not impressed with my spending, but it's okay, rent is paid and so far all the bills as well. I have to work better at controlling the flow of money, but I am learning slowly. I am very lucky to have parents who are helping me out with some of my expenses. *phew*

I am unsucessfully working my way through Kant's Judgement of Aesthetics ...but really...it seems interesting but his language is so technical. I am about 65% optimistic that I will succeed in understanding his concepts...who knows.

Seems like I have a bad case of the ramblings. Time to get back to homework.

Reading:

Immanuel Kant- Critique of Judgment (Analytic of Aesthetic Judgment)

Listening to:

The Very Best of Macy Gray- Sweet Baby ft Erykah Badu

* Nonage: Coined by Kant as not of age, term used to describe the thinkers before the Enlightenment (very loose paraphrase)

A little too much alone time

It's been a very long 4 days alone in the apartment and I have come to a few conclusions:

1. I am still afraid of being alone in dark spaces

2. There is a herd of elephants living in the apartment above

3. I am a lot more lonely than I thought

4. I miss walking around in my underwear and a tank top.

5. I miss my sister, we are finally learning how to get along.

6. I need to stock my fridge with more than just the bare necessities.

I did my Modes reading; Pope's 2nd Epistle on Man...I almost died of boredom. Now I am staring at a 100 pages worth of Spinoza reading. Perhaps the LAC was a mistake, I'm not feeling it. I don't know if it's just insecurities cropping up because all these political texts are dense and I'm not getting it while everyone else is, or maybe it's my little cricket on the shoulder telling me I don't have what it takes for this kind of program

*pity party* Ha! Oh dear...enough. I love the LAC, I don't know what's wrong with me. I think I'm more than just a little overwhelmed with the job, school and being in a new place.

But on a great note...I made myself rigatoni with a marinara sauce, it was delicious! I've started hanging things on my walls, well in my room at least. I'll post some photos of the apartment once it starts looking a little less bare.

Listening to:

Josh Ritter- just a mix of my favorite songs by him.

Reading (trying to:)

Spinoza

Looking forward to:

Going home for Rosh Hashanah, going to shul and eating big meals with my family

Back to the grindstone.

Today is the first day back at classes and it feels absolutely wonderful. I love being a student at the LAC, where everyone knows each other and for the most part is quite friendly. After 4 months away from school life and the people I see on a daily basis, it was great to catch up before, in between and after class for a little while. I love to watch people and I am always amazed by how different people look even after just a few months. Shorter hair, less of a beard, a new tattoo, tanned, taller etc. I love it.

I've been in the new apartment for 8 days now, and it's going great. It's a little lonely sometimes, but that's too be expected when you come from a big house filled with 4 other noisy family members. J. is a great roommate and we are making solid efforts to hang out with each other. The apartment is looking a little lonely in lack of decorations but hopefully with A.'s plans for a painting our mantle will have a great piece full of colours.

With back to school it means long hours of reading and coffee drinking. Thank god for Cafe Myriade on Mackay. You can't find better coffee or more importantly service. At least that's my opinion. Beautiful coffee from British Columbia (if I remember correctly), a great and friendly staff who recognizes their regulars and makes a huge effort to chat with you for a few minutes.

It's good to live downtown....it's great to be back at school and it's amazing to be able to walk to school and work.

I am happy. It's about darn time.

Mlle. Lincoln

Listening to:

Bon Iver- Blood Bank

Reading:

Spinoza- Theogico-Political Treatise

Contemplating:

Moses and God

Moved in. Day two in the apartment, so far it's been interesting if a little quiet.

sigh

Packing

I hate packing. I've almost packed all 500 or so books...boy are they heavy. As much as I have been griping about all the stuff I need to do, I feel pretty darn excited about the move. A fresh new start in a lovely apartment...

What's left:

-clothes

-wine bottles

-paintings

-toiletries

-desk

-bookcases

lucky me all my furniture is pretty much in the garage, along with all my ikea purchases (which I have resisted opening)

It's so exciting....yet so draining. I can't wait for september 1st to get here.

It's all about the salmon.

Tonight's dinner:

quasi blackened salmon steak

wild and brown rice with mushrooms

baby carrots steamed and then sauteed in a brown sugar sauce

It was delicious. I haven't been cooking that much lately, too tired, too lazy. I have two bags full of chopped rhubarb from Aeron's family's garden. I'm thinking rhubarb compote, a couple of tarts...perhaps a rhubarb and raspberry compote to top some pork chops?

The possibilities are endless, I'd love to cook dinner for someone special *sigh*

Dear Summer

The ducks in Boston. I would like to go back to Boston for more than 24hrs. Speaking of ducks, the ducks have only come to visit our backyard once this summer. I wonder where they are. It's funny how much of nuisance they can be when they nest in the backyard, but now since they have stayed away I realize how much I miss watching them. I love ducklings. Watching lady and gentleman ducks is quite a visual treat. (Not like that!) Summer has not quite arrived in Montreal; the weather has been crummy. I almost can't wait for 'summer' to be over so I can get back to school, I miss the college and the people.

Saturday night blues.

Dear Summer,

Hi it's me. Have you forgotten that you were suppose to come for a visit? I'm a little

miffed that you haven't made much of an effort. All of us here miss you horribly. It's not the same without warm nights and sunny days. I mean I guess you have a good reason? Global warming? Changing wind currents? Pollution?

your most loyal fan,

R.

I have been meaning to create a blog that I will stick with for longer than a heartbeat. Perhaps the meanderings and musings will be more fruitful than themed outlet such as just cooking, just music, just books.

As for first impressions, perhaps I can introduce you to the things and people I ponder about in my daily life:

This lovely lady, who now lives in Boston has tuned me onto quite a few interesting bloggers.

Another lovely lady, a long time friend, who is brimming with intelligence and compassion.

Everyday I start my process of unwinding by reading about all about my favorite musicians and other music news.

I liked to read all about what's happening in the world here

While I'm not floating around cyberspace losing myself in news and blogs. I work on creating and practicing recipes, like the perfect crust for a strawberry-rhubarb pie.

Listening to:

Isis- Wavering Radiant

Dustin Kensrue- Please Come Home

La Dispute- Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair

Reading:

Mr. Fooster by Tom Corwin and Craig Frazier

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

This has been a little introduction to the things and people I ponder.