Gloryfades.org

As you can see, I’ve changed the layout once again to a new Wordpress theme. I’m resigning myself to the fact that I’ll never be quite satisfied with anything of my own so I’ve gone out and found something that resembles something to what I desire. Not sure if it’ll last as there are approximately five billion different Wordpress themes I can choose from online presently but for now it will do.

Yesterday’s post was a bit of a departure from my usual entries. I wanted to experiment with a different writing style than I’m normally used to. I’ve never taken a journalism class in my life – which you can obviously tell! – but I think the entry turned out better than I had hoped it would; a little humour, a little (useless) information and some topical discussion. Not a bad mini-essay.

I’m still sort of struggling with the focus of this blog. I’m uncertain about whether I want to centre on a single topic or keep it general to keep people informed about me. Seems a bit vain when I actually write it out, to be quite honest…

It’s never been a day-to-day event type of blog, probably because I live a very boring life. The few people who do come here would no doubt slip into a coma if they were forced to read about what I do every day (which is largely not a whole lot).

This is why I’ve changed the sub-text in the header to read “Sexy profs, itchy feet, and other miscellanea” because it’s pretty apt – that’s basically what I write about! I like to muse, I like to write, I like to broadcast my ideas online. I guess I’m going to just keep doing that for the time being. I don’t see why it should change. The archives date back to 2004. If I haven’t narrowed down a focus in four years what makes me think I’ll start now? It would make more sense to start anew on a different weblog if I were to actually choose one topic. Eventually I might end up doing that.

I really enjoy writing and I’ve been doing more and more of it since school ended. I guess I never really considered myself a writer while growing up but not too long ago I was foraging in my chest (wooden, not digging around in the cleavage) for something and I kept coming across pages and pages of unfinished stories and poems. It made me realize that yes, Olga, you are a writer. You’ve grown up with a pen in your hand, or a keyboard under your fingertips and you’ve always had time to jot something down.

It’s not a huge revelation but one that has helped shape my own perception of who I am as a person, which is important for me. I’m at a point in my life where I’m no longer a child but I don’t really feel like an adult yet, either. Understanding what shapes me and what I am capable of helps me gain some bearing under all of these weird emotions that have been hitting me this past little while as I struggle with my own identity and place in the world.

I hope I never stop writing. Now that I consider myself a writer and I know I find pleasure in crafting words I don’t want to lose that part of myself.

Oh, Lordy is it ever cold out! I left early this afternoon to try and beat the snow but it still hit me and I still spent an hour and a half trying to crawl home. Thank goodness I had a book on tape to keep me company. That’s right, I said tape. My car’s ancient. I have a tape deck. It works like a charm, though. The book in question is Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, book #5 on my To-Be-Read Challenge 08 list.

My plans for tonight, coffee with my sister, were derailed by this snowstorm that is currently beating against my study’s window so I think I’ll spend the night being cozy instead. I have my knitting right beside me (a modest scarf as it’s my first attempt at knitting) and a DVD full of Battlestar Galactica episodes I’ve never seen. Seems like a perfect night for catching up.

Given that I’ve made this website a genuine weblog again, over the weekend I revamped the image of my collective. No longer an extension of my weblog, it’s now a full fledged website of its own (to the extent it can be, that is). I’ve named it Zealous since most of the good names have been taken already and I think it looks pretty spiffy.

Hmm, I wonder what the chances are of getting a snow day tomorrow?

Yay, a brand new layout for a brand new year! Sort of. It’s only been a month, though! Anyway, I liked this photo so I thought I would use it for my next layout. Drew Barrymore looks like a Greek goddess in that pose, don’t you think?

Truthfully, I don’t have that much to say at the moment. I’m still typing up my account of our trip through Central America so that’s coming. Also, I need to upload those photos to Flickr at some point. Hmm, it seems I have a lot more to do than I thought! Sadly, the weekend is coming to a close. I’ve had a very relaxing weekend; my whole department moved up two floors this week and, suffice it to say, I was glad once that was over and done with. Afterwards, G and I went out with friends for some Winterlicious fun.

Winterlicious is a semiannual Toronto event - about a hundred restaurants across the city participate by serving a prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner. It’s a way for celebrated Toronto chefs to reach more people as well as a way for people who enjoy luxurious food but can’t afford it on a regular basis to sample some of Toronto’s finest food. I absolutely love Winterlicious (and it’s warmer, sunnier counterpart, Summerlicious) and try to go at least once each time it comes around. This time we went to Brassaii. I had the seared salmon which was just delicious.

Other than that, this weekend has been quiet. I had coffee last night with a friend from Chapters and generally spent the day relaxing. Today, likewise, I haven’t been doing all too much. I did change the layout here, though!

I expect G will be arriving soon since he said he’d come by after a long day of playing Magic at a friend’s house. Yes, I’m dating a twelve year old boy. No judgment!

Break time! I’m cleaning again this afternoon. My b-day dinner shindig extravaganza is tonight and Daniela will be staying the night. Melba, unfortunately, has contracted some unfortunate illness and has to miss out on the festivities. Get better, Melbs! I hold no grudges!

So what else is new? Well, I have good news: I have a permanent position at my job. AND I have time off to go traveling!! I couldn’t stop jumping up and down last night after work like a little kid on Christmas. Maybe that’s why I’m listening to Christmas music now? My Christmas wish has come true! I’m going on holiday!!

The next step is to actually figure out where, though. G. and I know we want to do something warm but G. also suggested Tokyo. Japan would be a great holiday spot, I think, but not very warm… we’d still have to wear coats which I would rather not do. Still, it’s worth looking in to. Has anyone ever gone on vacation around Christmastime? Got any stories? Was it worth it/a nightmare?

I wouldn’t mind doing the resort thing for awhile but I don’t think G. will want to do it for the whole trip. We’d rather see some of the actual country as well rather than a tiny portion set aside for vacationers.

In further news, I’ve discovered the wonderful simplicity and convenience of the RSS feed. I’ve added all of the blogs I read regularly to it and it’s so easy to use - it may even get me to read blogs even more regularly. I think a large part of my I stopped reading regular blogs and sort of shifted towards Livejournal for awhile was because at LJ I could read all of the posts in one place - I didn’t have to go searching. I know, I’m a lazy beast, but if the RSS Feed wasn’t so popular I would think it’s just me. It ain’t. Everyone and your mom seems to have an RSS Feed if they own a blog. I largely ignored mine (which automatically comes with Wordpress) until I figured out how to read an RSS Feed. I just assumed it was for blackberries or something. Boy, was I wrong!

Anyway, enough gushing. I should get back to the dust and the clutter… Can’t let Daniela think I live in a hovel!

Edit: Homg, did anyone else know that Prince William is going bald??? That’s tragic, he’s so handsome.

Source: Styledash.com

Well, it’s up. I’m gonna be tired in the morning but it’s worth it. Thank you, iStockphoto.com for the image, Kya for the inspiration, and Diet Coke for the energy.

It’s not perfect … but it will do until something better pops into my head!

It’s 12:30 and I’m restless. My body is physically tired but my mind can’t seem to stop. I’ve been looking at a lot of websites today. Places like CSS Artillery.com and CSS Beauty.com. I can’t help but be jealous over how beautiful some of those websites are. I’m not really sure where my desire for web design went but it’s not around much these days. Gone are the days when I could sit around for six-seven hours and putz around with my Paint Shop until I was satisfied with whatever I made. I feel like I’ve kind of missed the boat. Everyone got better while I just did my thing. What the hell, you know?

Maybe this is why I’m trying to grab a hold of something. Maybe I’m looking for the inspiration or the drive to make something pretty once again. I know I’ve never been a wonderful web designer to begin with but there’s something to be said about self-improvement. Right now I feel like a dinosaur agape at the massive meteor hurtling towards me. I’ve resorted to using templates both on my website and livejournal simply because it’s easier and less time consuming than me figuring the coding out on my own. That used to be my favourite part once upon a time.

When did I stop enjoying the one hobby that I’ve had for so long?

I’m trying to figure out one of these Wordpress themes because they’re oodles of pretty. Perhaps I can make it a little more “Olga” and a little less generic. Let’s find out!