Today is my daddy's 59th birthday, so I just thought I'd take the time (OK, a little late, because he's probably already in bed now) to wish him a very Happy Birthday.

My dad was born in 1946. To Reginald Herbert Waspe and Frances Louise Deneau. An Anglo-Saxon and a French-Canadian. His side of the family is where I get my Welsh colouring and my love of red.

1946 was the year that Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart was released, as well asNotorious and The Big Sleep. Animal Farm by George Orwell was book of the year.

H.G. Wells died in 1946. The Bluenose sunk. The Canadian Citizenship Act was passed (though not enacted until the following year). All Japanese-Canadians were ordered deported to Japan. Ernie Eves was born. So was Eugene Levy. 1946 marked the beginning of Dean Martin's musical career.

1n 1946, the President of the U.S. was Harry S. Truman. At the end of that year, he officially announced an end of hostilities of World War II. William Lyon Mackenzie King was the Prime Minister of Canada. I'm sure he did some stuff too.

In 1946, the first meeting of the United Nations was held. The UN Security Council held its first session. The president of France, Charles De Gaulle, resigned. The last meeting of League of Nations took place as it transfered its role to the United Nations and disbanded. UNICEF was founded. 17 people died after a tornado along the Detroit river. (This is important to me, because I grew up in Windsor.)

In 1946, the bikini was introduced. In Vegas, The Flamingo Hotel opened its doors. And the first Tupperware was sold in stores.

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
Oh, Tim Burton, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Jennifer Weiner's How to Query the New Yorker
(If you are a Female Writer of Popular Fiction who Does Not Look like Nell Freudenberg). -- 2005.01.31 -- 20:15 | © 2001-2003 Stacey Waspe

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Seems to be a trend this year that presents for my upcoming birthday are arriving earlier than my birthday itself (which is Friday next, in case you want to send me a card or a present or something.)

My parents bought me a new winter coat this year, which was a great choice because it's been bitterly cold here in Toronto, and the coat is like an oven.

But I was a little surprised last night when the BF showed up with a wrapped rectangular object that I absolutely had to open immediately. Because he couldn't wait. (Which is very cute, btw.)

So, pictured here is me with my birthday present. And before you say, "Wow, what a nice mirror!", I'd like you to look closely at the tiny little red digital camera that's helping me take the picture.

It's a Sony Cybershot DSC-P100. And it's really cool. And it's red. And in case you all haven't figured it out by now, I really, really, really like it.

Which means that not only will I be able to post a picture of me wearing my new snowboarding jacket sometime later, it means I'll be able to post a lot of pictures of a lot of stuff.

And that's a good thing.

HAB: The HAB Bug Lamp
A very neat lamp, reminiscent of lanterns we used while camping (or bugs in a jar) along with some cool chairs.

Breakupnews.com - Glossary of Breakup Terms
I was particularly amused by "Pollitting: Stalking your ex by Googling them every few minutes..." Seriously funny.

What If...
We've all played the 'What If..." game one too many times. But have you ever tried to illustrate the many paths? Now someone has. Makes me wish I'd thought of it first. Damn.

Torrid Romance - Personalized Romance Novels and Novelty Gifts
I had a customized book as a kid. Something about rescuing Santa or something and my brother and cousins were in it and we all saved the day. This is the grown-up version. Hopefully minus the Santa. And the family members. -- 2005.01.28 -- 20:15 | © 2001-2003 Stacey Waspe

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One of my colleagues at work has just returned from a year of maternity leave, and it's sort of funny/strange trying to explain to her what's been going on in her absence or trying to tell her who so-and-so is. We keep having these weird conversations:

K: I'm going to the Computer Department in person. I was speaking to "X" on the phone.
Me: He sits right inside the doorway to the left. I sort of flick my head to the left as I say it.
K: He's the tall African..American. I mean, African-Canadian. Um....
T: No.
K: He's not? Who I am thinking of?
T: The tall black guy is "Y".
K: Oh. Well what does "X" look like?
Me: He's tall. Looks like he played football in highschool.
K: Oh?
Me: Think Oakville highschool football player and that's "X".
T: laughing so hard she's crying at this point That's exactly what I was thinking.

And then it occurred to me that men probably don't have conversations like this.

So the BF showed up a couple of nights ago with flowers. For. Me. I've been sick with a stupid cold for about a week, and he's been very sweet, humouring me when I say things like "I could be dead by Thursday." (Mother would have called me Sarah Bernhardt at least once this week, what with all my emotionally charged wimpering. She had the gall to uninvite me to my nephew's 3rd birthday this past weekend. I got "You'll get everyone sick," instead of "Yes, honey, come home and I'll take care of you." Seriously, once your parents become grandparents, it's all over. But I digress.)

It occurred to me around the time-of-the-flower-giving that I was in a relationship. With an emotionally evolved non-psychopathic adult male. Go figure. I mean, this is a first for me. That I have been given flowers by someone I've been dating. Not that I told him this, but it's true. First. Time. Ever. For about 45 seconds, I didn't even know what to do. I'm not mildly retarded or anything, just momentarily stunned. My brain kept repeating, "You just gave me flowers," like it was the strangest thing to ever happen.

Which is funny. Because it's not that strange. It's sweet. It is, for lack of a more effusive term, nice. It's like, something that happens. And I really like flowers. (They are spring-like and happy and I don't have the same guilty conscience about them the way I do about houseplants, which I kill with bizarre regularity.) I even buy them for myself. So yes. Flowers are all good. I made the mistake of mentioning the flower thing once to He Who Shall Not Be Named. (It's true. Voldemort and I dated in university.) I remember our conversation something like this:

HWSNBN: "You don't like flowers."
Me: "Yes I do. Just who are you confusing me with?"
HWSNBN: long pause "Uh, am I in trouble now?"
Me: "Yeah."

Of course, I am the only female on the planet (presumably) who doesn't know how to give a man grief over something. Especially stupid shit like that. (I'm not really a girl. I just play one on TV.) So there wasn't any trouble. Granted, smarter persons would have waited a few weeks and then surprised me. But no. No flowers.

Until now. Good. Lord. In. Heaven.

PostSecret
Join in a group art project by sending your secret via snailmail on a postcard.

Why simply enjoy an organism when you can experience a sensational organism?
Suck, don't blow. -- 2005.01.26 -- 20:15 | © 2001-2003 Stacey Waspe

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It's true. It's almost that time of year again. While in previous years (those spent wallowing in singledom) I have loathed February 14th, this year, as someone who is not single, I'll probably still dislike it excessively. Or at least look down upon it or dismiss it as being bogus or retarded or something.

But, truth be told, I am a girl. So I think about gifts and cards and such because, well, that's what one is supposed to do. Damn. You cannot win: If you celebrate, you're a sucker. If you don't, you're cynical and ungrateful. I look at it this way: Since it's going to suck either way, you might as well get something out of it. You should at least eat a lot of chocolate.

Being terrified as I am of really romantic cards (they make me uncomfortable, OK? Yeah, I know, in my deepest heart I eat it up like candy. It's not my fault - I was raised on Disney films and read way too many romance books in my youth), I myself favour these non-sucky ones, because they are silly, funny and just a wee bit snarky. Granted, some are just plain rude. But still. Funny.

Or you can go the wonderful route of our good friends at KnockKnock and it's still all good. While all their cards are funny, quirky and special, I really like Under Duress because generally these kind of gestures sort of feel like pulling teeth or something. Or maybe it's just me.

HowDesign: Get a life
Yeah. The importance of getting creative satisfaction from the other stuff (the stuff you don't get paid for).

Mcclung's says hello to your Aunt Flow
This may be the funniest thing I have ever read on menstruation. A cool guide as to what the hell is going on during the red tide. -- 2005.01.21 -- 20:15 | © 2001-2003 Stacey Waspe

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Me Hoi
Toronto based artist making t-shirts, magnets, buttons, cards, etc. Cool! -- 2005.01.19 -- 20:15 | © 2001-2003 Stacey Waspe

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INNERCALM - Infused Dark Chocolate
Organic dark chocolate bar infused with all sorts of goodies. Yum.

Veer Type: Dear Sarah Pro
One of the most delicious typefaces I've seen in a while. Sigh. -- 2005.01.12 -- 20:15 | © 2001-2003 Stacey Waspe

Words at Play
This is by far one of the coolest things I've seen done with type in a long, long time.

And now...Pantone flatware.
Oh yes. Please. Yummy! Cameo Pink. Lemon. I love the scribbly hand-written-ness of the Pantone name on each color block. -- 2005.01.06 -- 20:15 | © 2001-2003 Stacey Waspe

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