Lovely day...

[fajrdrako]

The world was crystalline and foggy today. Ice melting off branches of trees; some rain, icy underfoot till midday, but visually beautiful and mild. I went past Parliament Hill by bus, the Parliament Buildings invisible except for the dark neo-gothic towers emerging above the fog.

Morning: I had breakfast with maaseru at the Mayflower. Then I went to Mags & Fags (my favourite magazine store) to see if the new Starburst was in, and it was - with a Torchwood cover picture! Then to the Silver Snail to pick up a month's worth of comics - a luscious big pile, heavy on Civil War stories - and not just one but two issues of Doctor Who Magazine. It was like a premature Christmas.

Then downtown to meet up with lmondegreen for Bubble Tea. I had pomegranate flavour; she had green apple; I liked the colour combination, and both were delicious. After shopping (and getting millet as a Christmas present for Logan), I came home and did my exercises while watching the Doctor Who episode "Rose", and then I started my new Tai Chi With Sword video-tape. Got as far as about 1/8 of the first position and almost whacked myself in the head with the sword a few times, but that's okay, I'll get the hang of it. Watched all the introductory part about what tai chi is - I already knew it, but getting to the part with the swords was very, very cool.

I also did a first draft of my New Year's Resolutions. I couldn't wait, and yes, I found it very exciting. Why? Anticipation of my future, I suppose, which I am hoping to shape. In a good way.

While at home, I was listening to John Barrowman A Musical Christmas on BBC radio. Enjoyed it so very much.

For supper maaseru, maaboroshi and I went to the Ben Ben Restaurant on Somerset Ave. and I got to have my favourite dish: BBQ Duck Congee. On the way home we did some looking around at the beautiful Christmas lights on so many houses and trees - especially beautiful where they are aligned along the other side of the canal. Then we came back to maaseru's place and opened our Christmas gifts to each other, while watching the burning log and listening to maaboroshi's new CD of Christmas music. Much joy and delight and squeeing.

They jointly gave me a book I knew about, and didn't even dare to covet: a huge, gorgeous glossy art book about X-Men characters, continuity and art. Pictures from every era. Not every character: we looked in vain for Pete Wisdom (mentioned briefly twice, with no pictures) and Rictor (mentioned twice, with no pictures) and Exodus (nada). But there are great pictures of Storm and Magneto and even Sam Guthrie - well, it's all rather breathtakingly wonderful to this X-Men fan.

Comments

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

After what happened to you earlier this week ... you deserve it.

No rest for me, however. I will be working 9.5 hour days for the next two weeks, including both Christmas & New Years'. [I just found out about the New Years' part today.] At least I still have Thursdays & Fridays off ...

Merry Christmas and a' that ...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

My advice? Feel celebratory as you work.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

What an excellent time! Am so glad you are having fun! The book sounds great!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's utterly beautiful. They put a lot of effort and style into producing it - which I really appreciate. It would have been easy to make it tacky, but it's far from it, and the information (though not very in-depth) is good.

I hope you're having a good time, too. I have to do some housecleaning, wrapping, exercises, baking, and I was hoping to fit in a nap - all within two hours! I wonder if there's any hope...

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I went past Parliament Hill by bus, the Parliament Buildings invisible except for the dark neo-gothic towers emerging above the fog. Ooo. I can see it in your description...

Then I went to Mags & Fags (my favourite magazine store) to see if the new Starburst was in, and it was - with a Torchwood cover picture! Then to the Silver Snail to pick up a month's worth of comics - a luscious big pile, heavy on Civil War stories - and not just one but two issues of Doctor Who Magazine. It was like a premature Christmas. I need to be on the lookout for Starburst--! Funny I didn't see any on the shelf two days ago when I picked up Cult Times and Sci Fi. I have to ask: which "Civil War," hm? the British one, or the American one which I have always known by the name The War Between The States...? Just wondering!

Doctor Who magazine -- gad, I don't even ever see this one, on the shelf here!! Clearly a grievous oversight. I'll have to mention it to the management.

Tai chi with sword -- perfect for you. I smile. And I like how you talk about your resolutions: looking forward to the opportunity of shaping your future. So right. And a wonderful attitude.

I am glad your holiday has been so filled with joy... good friends being the largest part of that.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't know about your magazine stores, but Starburst is very difficult to find here. I know of two places who carry it on a not-entirely-regular basis: Mags & Fags and Britton's. Luckily neither is very inconvenient for me.

Civil War - I can tell you haven't been keeping up with Marvel comics. You know how they have massive crossover continuity themes that affect all or most Marvel comics from time to time? This is the biggest one yet, and it's brilliant. It started early in the summer; the U.S. government started demanding that all superheroes be licensed and set to work for the government, revealing their identities to the world. Those who refuse are branded outlaws and terrorists and sent (without rights) to a terribly gulag in the Negative Zone. Some of the Marvel heroes, spearheaded by Iron Man (and to a lesser extent by Reed Richards) are working with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the U.S. government to track down the outlaw superheroes. Others, led by Captain American, are renegades fighting for freedom. It's been a terrific story, mostly very well written, with all sorts of dramatic events - such as Spider-Man revealing to the world that he is Peter Parker. I'm a few months behind on the story, actually (more in some comics than others) but I'm enjoying it immensely.

Anyway, that's the Civil War I'm referring to. Nothing in your history or mine.

Doctor Who magazine -- gad, I don't even ever see this one, on the shelf here!! Clearly a grievous oversight. I'll have to mention it to the management.

Yes, mention it! Demand it! It's great fun. It's put out by the some of the same people who do the TV show.

Tai chi with sword -- perfect for you.

I think so, though at the moment I look nervously at the very first moves and think, "Which foot is my right one?"

Yes, it's been a good Christmas season.

[filkferengi]

Yay for fun with good friends, made better by fabulous books!

Happy New Year!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Happy new year to you, too!