Lately

I concede that I haven't been the best blogger in the world lately.  You may have been wondering what I've been up to.  (Then again maybe not, as I'm sure like most people you're far too busy in your own life to worry about the absence of a half-hearted blogger.)

Truth be told, adjusting to "working life" in Toronto has not been an easy transition.  As students, pretty much everything we needed/wanted was in walking distance of our flat.  Now, I spend a total of an hour and a half per day commuting to and from work.  The drive itself should only take about 20 minutes, but of course I'm on the road at the peak of rush hour both ways.  Likewise, it takes Steve a little under an hour each way.  It's exhausting, to say the least.  And I feel like the worst dog owner in the world, which kills me.

With only about four hours of free time per day (well, 2.5-3 when you subtract the time it takes to make and eat dinner and walk the dog) it's amazing I have time to do anything else at all.  On nights when I don't force myself to go to the gym, I usually curl up in front of the TV, or with a good book.  For a while it was more often the former, but as I get used to my new job I'm left with a bit more brainpower at the end of the day, and hence more energy to commit to a book. 

The other day, I finished re-reading Metamorphosis.  It had been a long time since I'd read this quirky yet wonderful work of literature, and wow, do I ever have a different perspective on it now.  Having watched the movie The Squid and the Whale about a hundred times in the past three years, I was inclined to pay much more attention to the novella's last paragraph, which one could argue changes everything.  Having a first hand knowledge of "the daily grind" also makes the first part, where the chief clerk comes to check on Gregor at home, much funnier and more relatable. 

If you have never read Metamorphosis, I highly recommend that you seek it out as soon as possible.

I was thrilled to see that Emily Giffin was out with a new book, despite the fact that I sometimes pretend not to like her work.  Truth be told, there is NOTHING that makes my day like having a truly addictive book on the go, even if it's not "great literature."  The thing about Giffin is she is obviously a highly intelligent woman who has found a perfect niche as a writer, and how can one but respect that?  This is one of her best books so far; if  you like this kind of thing, you will love Heart of the Matter.

Steve and I have also spent quite a lot of time preparing delicious, vegan food.  I feel so much better in every way when I fuel up on this good stuff.  That's not to say that I don't indulge in some decidedly non-vegan food every now and then. (Like, for instance, a smooth, cool dish of to-die for gelato on a hot summer evening from here).

But this homemade pad thai sure hits the spot as well...it's fast becoming one of our absolute favourite meals.

A little while ago we also made our favourite vegan lasagna.  It's even better with Daiya cheese, which we were never able to get in Kingston.  See?  Living in Toronto does have its advantages after all!!

So, yeah, that in a nut shell is what I've been up to lately.  Some days have been better than others, but all in all I feel like things are on the right track.  I'm planning some pretty big changes for the future, and am working on enhancing my sense of equanimity in order to face upcoming challenges more effectively...