Happy Easter Monday

I must admit I am starting to get impatient to have spring unfold itself a little bit more.  We seem to have gotten ourselves stuck with  -5 or -6 at night and  +6 or +7 high in the daytime.  I need my winter jacket as I walk to work in the early morning and even as I walk home at night, as it cools right down as soon as the sun falls low on the horizon.  What I long for is short sleeves in the daytime and a light jacket at night.  Even warmer would be much nicer, but I promise not to complain one bit about the weather, if I could just put away my winter jacket once and for all!

So it is Monday and for me the end of a normal work day.  For some of you lucky to have the day off, it was Easter Monday.  Never quite understood the significance of Easter Monday, except that it was a holiday for those folks who do not get Remembrance Day off.   

Did a bit of research.  In the East Orthodox Religion it is known Bright Monday or Renewal Monday.  In Poland and parts of the USA it is known as Dyngus Day or Wet Monday.   Actually, everyone used to celebrate all of the following week after Easter Sunday, but I guess we can thank the modern era for no week long religious holidays anymore.  (LOL)   Events include egg rolling competitions and, in predominantly Roman Catholic countries, dousing other people with water - that is holy water.  It has been traditional for the White house to host Egg Rolls.  When I read on Twitter today that the President was at an Easter Egg Roll Opening, I immediately thought Chinese Food.  Boy, was I wrong!  I have posted the pic from the White House site showing the President partaking in the egg rolls.  The map shows countries which have an Easter Monday Holiday.

So I had a full day of work.  Which gets me to the next point of discussion, whether I should start a pool to bet on whether my project at work gets cancelled and if I will be out of work in the next month.  After today's business meeting, I am guessing that it is just as likely that my project will be cancelled.  Well, at least in a month the weather will have for sure improved!

I have been so impressed with the Canada Live Concerts that are played every night on CBC Radio 2 and which can be played "on demand" from their website.   Saturday night they featured a Toronto Fado Artist by the name of Sonia Tavares - Live at Lula Lounge .  The concert was recorded in early March at the Lula Lounge, here in Toronto.  I have spoken in a previous blog about the Portuguese Fado music.  Click here to go to that blog and read more about Fado.   This was a great concert.  It seems I am listening to more and more world music.  Toronto is such a diverse city - we have every culture here and this reflects greatly in the live music which is available to enjoy.   Incidently, you should check out the live music concerts "on demand" at the CBC website - there are some awesome artists available for the listen! 

Happy Easter Monday!

This and that for a Monday Morning

I want one!

I came across something the other day when watching a TED talk on new innovations and as it turned out, one of the items was not new just perhaps new to us folk who do not live in Japan. Apparently nearly half of all Japanese homes are equipped with one and I I think that it would be really neat to have one in my home. What is it you might ask? A Toto Washlet S400!

Just watch the video at this URL and tell me you wouldn't like one too
The lid lifts as you approach and lowers as you leave; It sprays warm water and cleans you and then blow dries you! And even an air sanitizer!  A hands free toilet visit!  Just like on Star Trek !  Oh yes, and the toilet seat is heated for those cold winter mornings.  LOL

Obama in the Centre

I have a subscription to an Ezine called World Wide Words, which provides a weekly article featuring interesting, odd and misused English language words. This week's made me chuckle when I read this entry:

A New York Times article about President Obama’s meeting on March 27 with the heads of financial institutions had him, to the mild surprise of Paul Ayars, “sitting at the center of a round table in the state dining room.” In the lotus position, perhaps?

Happy News

Yes, there is such a URL!!! I found this news item on the Happy News site:We are one step closer to having a flying car! It is called a "roadable aircraft" and has made its successful maiden flight, according to Terrafugia, the company that is developing it.  The vehicle is expected to go on sale as early as 2011 for around $194,000. To learn more, read the full story: www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509656,00.html

Fado Music

Last night I listened to my favourite radio show, In the Key of Charles.  He does a program each week on CBC radio and he chooses a different theme each week.  This week's theme was "Crying Music" and he played all sorts of genres following this theme.  As he played a Fado, I was reminded how much I love this music. 

Fado originates from Portugal and since we have a good number of Portuguese here in Toronto we also have some local Fado musicians who have been getting a good deal of air play on CBC recently.  Fado translates to destiny or fate and is typified as a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor.  Wiki says that some claim that Fado's origins are a mixture of African slave rhythms with the traditional music of Portuguese sailors and Arabic influence.   I find the music  quite beautiful because of the classical guitar and the deep emotion conveyed by the music .

If you are interested in hearing some Fado take a listen: