Every year, round the time of my birthday, i get down. I used to not understand why, exactly. But, thanks to the patience of my wonderful husband and some introspection, i have come to the conclusion i am, quite simply, dwelling on the negative rather than the possitive. I think about all the things i did not do in the year just gone by, not all the good things. Like quitting smoking! My goodness, i smoked for over 20 years, and since my last birthday, i quit! And although i did it when i was sick with the flu, it was freakin' hard. So, now that my birthday has come and gone, i feel a bit of relief, and i have resolved to not let it get to me next year.

We went to see my parents this weekend. They spoiled me with kitchen stuffs, little gadgets and do-dads... but not too spoiled. No cake, but a nice box of chocolates... i tried not to eat them all at once. Finished them tonight. The day after, not too bad. lol

Spent the day in Toronto yesterday. Did some shopping, got myself... oops... no, i didn't pay, (e:Uncutsaniflush) did... he got me some charms from a groovy place i like to go to in Kensington Market called Courage My Love. Hope that evil eye will help after all! Ate good chinese on Younge at Wellesley. Miss that city. We resolved to go more. Once a month, even if it is just to hang about in Chinatown. I thought we saw a sign for a vegetarian place in that 'hood... wonders will never cease. Was a cold and windy day, though, so we tried to keep ourselves warm. Day passes for the TTC help with that!!

Here's a pic i took from the top level of the GoTrain. My favie guy with my favie city in the background... the CN tower just barely visible between the buildings.

OK, folks, i got a food question for ya'll. As i sit and wait for my favie pizza to arrive, i wonder what you guys like. Where's your favie place? What's your favie toppings? Give me all the dirt!

My favie is LaNova. They have great pizza. OK, so the location is a bit... well, it is off the beaten strip, let's just say. Not too far from our place, really. It's on Ferry...

Oh yum... its here!!

Update

Thanks for all your responses, peeps! Like me, most of you have strong opinions and tastes on pizza.

Funny, though, i didn't even say what i like. Go me. I am a bit of a purist... i like cheese pizzas, preferably NY style. I am ok with some toppings, but not loads. My preference is a good thin crust cheese pie...

Which, i reckon is the opposite of your tastes, eh, (e:Theecarey)?

We tried Just Pizza once and we were disappointed. Thought it was overpriced and it seemed to be all about the toppings, not the quality of the basic ingredients.

We used to go to NY Pizza when we lived in that 'hood, (e:dcoffee)... we should check on the places you mention in South Buffalo. I love little hole in the wall places. :)

I should try my hand at homemade pizza, (e:Kara)... i could do it the easy way, really and get out my breadmaker for the dough. :O)

Yesterday was such a nice day, we thought we would take advantage of it and spend some time with the animals at the zoo. I'm glad we did. There was a lot of activity. Funny how most of us end up at the zoo in the heat of the summer, in the middle of the afternoon, but that seems to be when the animals are more likely to be hiding in the shade sleeping...

The elephants were eating when we got there and then one of them started trumpeting. She went outside and bashed around some sort of mangled plastic tub... mostly with her back feet, accompanied by more grunts and trumpets. She was loud enough to draw a wee crowd.

We even saw some dancing goats. Have no idea what they were up to, but one of them bounced about like.. well, like he was dancing.

Here are some pics...

Here is the agouti.



And a Wallaby



A cute, but slightly blurry pic of the baby giraffe... he looks curious in this shot, i think.



And one of the adults, making sure i wasn't doing anything to the cute baby..



Last, but not least, (e:Uncutsaniflush), looking at his favorite part of the zoo. He mentioned something about channelling (e:Paul)....

Or as we used to call it in my family, my brother's hangover day, since February 1 is his birthday. He turned 40 yesterday.

According to the CBC

Groundhog Day consensus: early Canadian spring
Last Updated Thu, 02 Feb 2006 09:05:23 EST
CBC News

Canadians can look forward to an early spring, based on two famous groundhogs failing to see their shadows on Thursday.

Wiarton Willie's handlers consult with the rodent seer before announcement.

Groundhog Day cheers erupted in Wiarton, Ont., as Wiarton Willie's white-gloved, purple-robed handlers made the morning announcement that the rodent hadn't seen his shadow, indicating an early end to winter.

Organizers of the Wiarton Willie Festival claim the albino groundhog's track record over the past 50 years is "better than 90 per cent."

On the East Coast, Nova Scotia's best-known woodchuck also signalled an early spring. Shubenacadie Sam emerged from his heated home at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park outside Halifax and failed to see his shadow.

The news comes as many Canadian cities reported their warmest January on record. Environmental officials believe a vortex of cold air that usually traverses the globe is parked over Russia, blanketing Europe with arctic weather. In contrast, North America is bathed in warmer air from the jet stream.

That fact isn't lost on Wiarton Willie, said his handler, Mack MacKenzie, who translated the groundhog's comments: "Fools, it is spring already. Why are you making these silly predictions?"

South of the border, Punxsutawney Phil delivered some unwelcome news.
Mack MacKenzie, rodent handler and translator.

The large crowd gathered in Gobbler's Knob, Penn., groaned loudly after learning the chunky critter saw his shadow, indicating six more weeks of winter.

Groundhog Day legend began with a German superstition that suggests if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on the Christian holiday of Candlemas, which is Feb. 2, winter will last another six weeks. No shadow indicates an early spring.

Europeans used to watch for hedgehogs, but a hedgehog shortage in North America caused settlers to switch to woodchucks, also known as groundhogs.

Got the nicest silver elephant braclet in the mail today. It came from my friend, Linda, in Knoxville. Took these pics of them to email her my thanks, and thought i would share with ya'll.

Here it is.. matches my white gold wedding ring nicely, i think. :O)



And detail. See how it sparkles... lol.




In Other News..

We went to see the film Zathura at the cheap movies out in the wild and wicked suburban east end. Cute little film. We understand why it wasn't particularly popular. A little dark for small kids, too young for teens... i guess that is why (e:Uncutsaniflush) and i thought it was amusing. lol. But hey, it only cost us both $3 to see it. It kinda reminded me of the Robin Williams movie, Jumanji now that i think of it...


New Themes

I like the Ontario theme, (e:Paul). I swear it's not because i was born in Ontario! :O) The seafoam is pretty good, too... a tad bright, but maybe it will be good for mornings, when i need a jolt!