MetaChat - How's your day so far?

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18 June 2006

How's your day so far? I'll start. :) →[More:]

I just felt like my describing my morning. It's 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, and so very sweet. It's sunny, ever so slightly cool (for now)... and nobody in the whole city is up but the swallows and I*. And whoever rings the church bells at Saint Sofia. The little square behind my building (filled with small tavernas, hand-made furniture shops, and my wonderful greengrocers) is covered in a canopy of green ivy/grape vines, and a few pigeons are hanging around socializing by the big round fountain.

There's a little haze in the air, and I can tell it will be hot later. Soon. My coffee is perfect, and this is bliss. If I walked down to the seafront right now (which I won't, because I don't want to stir) I could cross right across Leoforos Nikis to the seafront promenade without dashing through bumper-to-bumper traffic - a rare luxury.

* totally untrue. It just feels that way from my perch overlooking Athonos Square. When I walk to the front balcony, I see traffic on Egnatia, busses making the circle in upper Artistotle square, and quite a number of people mulling around already. At the coffee house across the street someone is setting out chairs and hosing down the pavement. Across Egnatia (the road that runs from Istanbul to Rome), is this ancient Byzantine church I love, Panagia Chalkeon (Our Lady of the Coppersmiths). I would love to go drink my coffee in her garden, but it's locked up, and the priests would freak out.

post by: taz at: 00:13 | 53 comments

That's why waking up early is so fun. You get the city all to yourself. And damn, what a gorgeous church.

Last night I went drinking with a friend I haven't seen in a while, and my hangover today has been a nightmare. But I managed to drag myself out for long enough to sign the lease on my new house, so it was a good day.

posted by cmonkey 18 June | 00:23

My day is soon to end. Between 11 and midnight the temp dropped from 94 to 76 and the humidity is at about 60%. I went for my walk and cigar and the neighborhood was full of folks sitting and standing in their yards and alleys and talking.

I love that.

posted by arse_hat 18 June | 00:28

That's awesome =)

Got up, smoked a bowl, showered, went to work, bussed up to the 'shore, watched the Edmonton/Carolina game at the Pemby, felt too drunk so, back home.

posted by porpoise 18 June | 00:34

My day is over. I am now going to bed.

posted by weretable and the undead chairs 18 June | 00:50

cmonkey, my schedule's been off for a couple of months, but I usually like to wake up in time to see dawn break. God, I love that.

I also love what you described, arsey... the wonder of the temperature drop after a hot day. Unless it's accompanied by a more or less profound weather change, though, I never feel it much here (during the next two months anyway), since the sun bakes itself into the concrete and asphalt of the city. The only good time to catch it at all is early morning, after the heat has had the whole night to dissipate a bit. An hour, or maybe two, of heaven.

Porpoise, what shore?

posted by taz 18 June | 00:50

Long day like always. Last half hour: downloaded some songs but decided against posting them (too mushy for elizard's thread).

Oh! taz! I love the neighborhood you are in (Santa Sofia is where my kids got baptized last year). Cheese bougatsas and coffee in the morning and mezedes and retsina in the evening. In Ladadika. I am counting the days.

posted by carmina 18 June | 00:55

glermescent. positively glermescent.

posted by quonsar 18 June | 01:03

It's just barely 2am here. I just got back from my volunteer shift at the film festival, and it was so much fun. They encouraged us to drink and enjoy the show, which included films, an awesome band and fire dancers. I made a bunch of new friends and smoked too many cigarettes. The festival director sent me home with a half case of booze because I stayed late helping out. I shared this with my friends and then took the subway with a bag full of beers and mixed cocktails, then caught a cab from my subway station. Now I'm chilling on IRC trying to sober up a bit, catching up with all the bunnies. Lovely pics Taz.

posted by SassHat 18 June | 01:07

I'm wrapping up a good fun family day. We went to a family birthday party for a one year old in Pleasanton. It was hotter than Phoenix in August but there was a good breeze blowing and the park we were in had all kinds of fun water stuff to play in. I feel like the sun laughed at the SPF 30 I was wearing and that I got a little scorched.

The best part was watching my little guy running through the water spraying and just literally screaming in joy. Well, that and him and his cousin playing together so phenomenally well, it was fantastic.

It ended up being a monster day for everyone and they have all passed out happily and wearily. And I got some really fantastic photos from all the action, the best of which will go up in my photostream.

I am tempted to go outside and get cold and then soak in the hot tub.

posted by fenriq 18 June | 01:11

Carmina, I'm totally going to transform you into an Athonos girl... Though one place I'll take you, Negroponte, is at the edge of Ladadika. Here's a view into the kitchen (sorta), and here's Vangelis at Negroponte.

posted by taz 18 June | 01:11

I woke up just after seven: the dog was lying on my leg; so I took him out on our usual circuit of Amiralitetsparken (The Admiralty Park); the grass was coolly wet & there was nobody around so I let doggie off the leash & watched him run for a while, before we ambled up to Stortorget (The Great Square), & walked across it. It's a cloudy morning; warm & humid; there was rain last night & I guess there'll be more today. Then we walked down Ronnebygatan (Ronneby Street) and watched a family—Mom, Dad & the three small kids—packing themselves into one of a pair of immaculately shiny black SUVs with Polish plates; the Dad was getting annoyed with one of the kids… then we joined Borgmästaregatan (Mayor Street) and strolled back home. I had an espresso, put some food down for cat #1, checked my internet whatnots, and now muct consider breakfast & doing some laundry.

posted by misteraitch 18 June | 01:17

I don't know Negroponte but I think I know where you are... At least the little grocery store. I have a month more to go. Show mercy!

OK, here is something I downloaded earlier and seems more appropriate for your thread.
Καλημερα.

posted by carmina 18 June | 01:21

Negroponte isn't by Aristotelous, carmina. It's a little restaurant at Ladadika, just off Tsimiski. This is where I said we would probably go for lunch because it will be too hot to sit outside at Athonos.

Negroponte has a couple of outside tables, but they aren't pleasant (to me) because it's too close to Tsimiski. I only like to eat inside there, because it's old and funky and cool, and the food totally rocks.

posted by taz 18 June | 01:29

Oh, and you totally know where I am: upper Aristotelou, between Kapani Market and Athonos Square, and between Egnatia and Ermou, just one building off Ermou. Standing on my balcony (fronting Aristotelou), Modiano Market is just across the street, to the left.

posted by taz 18 June | 01:34

I know, taz.. I will have dreams of Thessaloniki tonight.

It is funny, we must have passed each other on the street sometime... Can you believe this?

Listen to the music I posted. I just love it.

posted by carmina 18 June | 01:40

I'm listening now... It's so beautiful and moving. Anything else you ever want to post along those lines would be fantastic. And when you get here, we'll have fun totting up all the friends we have in common. :)

posted by taz 18 June | 01:45

The roomate and I spun at a wedding last night, along with a friend of ours (who fortunately owns a full PA). Our first expierence as DJs outside of a club/bar atmosphere (other than college radio many moons ago). It was a lot of fun, and we rented a Mustang for the weekend, which was necessary for hauling music and gear, and just plain useful for other errands. (well, the Mustang was not necessary. The Mustang was all they had left. But no complaints here!)
But I woke up with a cigarette hangover (as I do whenever I DJ), which progressed into a sinus headache, which progressed into a migraine. So I'm up at twenty to three waiting for the painkillers I took to kick in enough that I can lay down without wincing.

But, the bride couldn't stop telling us how thrilled she was with the music, and how happy she was, so I'm in a pretty good mood otherwise.

posted by kellydamnit 18 June | 01:45

carmina, it's lovely! Thanks for posting it!

kellydammit, sorry about the migraine but high fives for the wedding DJ'ing!

posted by fenriq 18 June | 01:50

Thanks! We were nervous as hell, it's pretty overwhelming to have someone say they want you to be such a major part of the biggest day of their life to date. But it was a fun, laid back wedding. Another friend of ours officiated (yay Universal Life Church). IMO, it works nicely that way, since the people involved want it to succeed not just because they're getting paid, but also because they want their friends to be happy.
I think the venue was a bit confused, though. It was at one of those wedding-factory places, two or three outdoor areas for ceremonies, and three indoor wedding banquet rooms, with in-house food (that was very good!). I don't think they knew what to make of three goth-industrial DJs spinning a wedding. Although seeing her parents slow-dance to VNV Nation was priceless.

posted by kellydamnit 18 June | 01:55

And when you get here, we'll have fun totting up all the friends we have in common. :)

I am falling asleep with this big grin in my face :-)

G'night one all.

posted by carmina 18 June | 02:01

Kellydamnit, if your migraines aren't vascular (and it sounds like they might not be) and you have any trouble finding something to treat them (I did), you might try Norgesic, (450 mg) if you can get it. It's over-the-counter here, and I only came across it because a doctor once recommended it for back pain that my husband had. It's the only thing I've ever tried (besides codeine) that's worked like a charm for me. And fast.

(sweet dreams, carmina!)

posted by taz 18 June | 02:12

I usually take Excedrin Migraine, which actually does work for me. Problem being, this peaked in the evening, and it's chock full of caffine. Hence me being up and posting at this time of night. ;)
Looks like it's perscription here, though I may ask my doc about it the next time I see him.
Technically I can get all the lortabs my heart desires because of my bad ankle. I don't, though, since I know I'd end up dependant on them if I knew pain releif was a pill away constantly, and I don't want to live the rest of my life tied to a pill bottle.

posted by kellydamnit 18 June | 02:18

Now that I'm older, I don't get them so much, but for many years I always kept a pill or two on me (first codeine, then norgesic), in case a migraine started up while I was out, because they're so much easier to catch at the beginning, but I'm so not a pill person. We have one of the most spartan of medicine cabinets, I think. Absolutely no fun at all for bathroom snoopers. :)

posted by taz 18 June | 02:30

Oh, also, what I meant to say is that I love them because they do make me sort of sleepy... Which, with a migraine, is one's prayer and mantra: "please let me fall asleep, please let me fall asleep, please let me fall asleep..."

posted by taz 18 June | 02:35

That is so the truth...
(and I think I may give it a try again)

posted by kellydamnit 18 June | 02:42

good luck, sweetie! Feel better.

posted by taz 18 June | 02:43

carmina, that's beautiful--I love that piece! And the thread was meant to be about lust songs of any type--sorry if the hard ass-kicking music (as p&c put it) sent you elsewhere.

posted by elizard 18 June | 03:36

...and taz, thanks for telling us about your morning. The pictures are beautiful--makes me long to go there. But then, your photos and descriptions always do that.

posted by elizard 18 June | 03:40

that's so sweet, elizard! Actually, it's a place like anyplace else, in the sense that some aspects of it will make you want to tear off your head and vomit into the hole (everyone! have fun working that one out!)...

but it makes me happy in so many ways... that I feel uncharacteristically content.

posted by taz 18 June | 05:00

Fantastic taz. That sound's like a little slice of heaven.
So far, for me... It's been sleepy.
Had the most busy of busy weeks last week (socially and work), so it's time to relax, potter round the garden, watch the T.V. and spend a little time with me. In the afternoon, I'm in/out with a good friend. Coffee, wine and maybe trip to the pub.

p.s. Date 2 went very well. Although my mispronunciation of kitsch led to a very confusing conversation about eggs. Week 3 is the cinema (Hopefully that thing with Keanu Reeves)

posted by seanyboy 18 June | 05:17

SO... how did you mispronunce "kitsch"?

(because I can't figure out the egg connection, no matter how many ways I try to pronounce it...)

posted by taz 18 June | 05:24

Quiche

posted by seanyboy 18 June | 05:26

HAH! I love you, s-boy.

posted by taz 18 June | 05:33

IM INEBRITATED RITE NOW FYI
AND IM TRYING TO DECIDE BETWEEN CIG VS PASSING OUT]
I MET A NICE, INTELLIGENT, EASY-GOIN,G & INTERESTING YOUNG LADY TONGIHT
SHE WAS VERY COOL AND WE HAD FUN!
IT WAS AN UNEXPECTEDLY AWESOME EVENING

posted by Wedge 18 June | 06:04

{{{wedge}}}

*hugs wedge, and gives him a couple of Norgesics. Out of love.*

posted by taz 18 June | 06:44

Beautiful taz. I've always been an early bird - love the world before the rest of the population wakes. Just me, the birds, bugs and wind. ahhh.

Gave Pop a father's day call, have to do the usual domestics like laundry and litter box cleaning. Exciting!

posted by chewatadistance 18 June | 07:46

Just woke up from a nightmare about moving (I moved cross-country two weeks ago) in which my roommates were making out on top of my pile of boxes and I was too shy to interrupt so my truck drove away and it was Sunday so I couldn't get another and I had to be at work in the new location on Monday.

It can only get better from here. There's a Flag Day parade this afternoon, which is always full of Boy Scouts and veterans and every elected official in town from Selectmen to Tree Planting Committee, which should be fun.

posted by nonane 18 June | 08:01

...11 and midnight the temp dropped from 94 to 76...

It's expected to do the opposite here in NYC in the next couple hours, so I'm disassembling the big LED wall that blocks the window, so I can put the air conditioner in.

posted by StickyCarpet 18 June | 08:57

Good morning hangover here. I went to a big party last night, thrown by the Asheville bloggers, and I won a prize (Most Likely to Make You Laugh Out Loud, yay me) and drank too much beer and smoked waaaaaaay too many cigarettes and now, of course, I don't feel so well. But I had a good time so oh well, it's okay.

posted by mygothlaundry 18 June | 09:05

Ugh. So today is all cleaning of the apartment, laundry and other chores. We've really let the place go as I was finishing up my comic book all last month and my partner was wrapping up school for the year.

The band played a show last night which was a lot of fun even though it was also totally under-attended, chaotic and plagued by technical difficulties, some of which resulted in me having to hold the bass drum down with my foot during half the set (effectively anchoring me/tie-ing me down -- and I like to move around when playing) as well as a few broken strings on two guitars, mics cutting out and feeding back, and many a flubbed note while being distracted by all those glitchy things. My criteria for a good show is soley whether or not I had a good time since there's always something about the sound, or a song, or the audience, or the venue, or some other thing that can bring you down if you let it. I did a bit of drinking after the show and didn't get to bed until 3:30. I didn't drink too much, but just enough to really make those chores maximally unappealing.

My day so far has consisted of dread over said chores and dismay over how much of the day has already passed without me doing anything more than drink coffee, check e-mail and pet the cat (not a euphemism!).

posted by safetyfork 18 June | 09:56

Apologies for spelling and grammar. Sheesh, I'm bad today.

posted by safetyfork 18 June | 10:04

heh, Ceiling cat is watching you pet the cat.

posted by taz 18 June | 10:55

Taz - the North shore... of the Burrard inlet. ie., North Vancouver; where I grew up and where a bunch of friends still live.

posted by porpoise 18 June | 11:13

ooh, purty. (from this page)

posted by taz 18 June | 11:35

≡ Click to see image ≡

You can see the building where the mister works in this photo (same source as taz).

Most of your evenings/mornings sound so very exotic to me. *sigh*

posted by deborah 18 June | 12:20

I feel so much better today!!
I called my dad, and sent him a GC to amazon. Later the roommate and I are going shopping and to dinner, since we have wheels for the weekend.

Although the new beer I wanted to try, Golden Monkey, is icky.

posted by kellydamnit 18 June | 12:31

My day so far has been agonizing over whether I can get into grad school and where to apply. That and baking pumpkin pasties for a friend's birthday. Do they offer graduate programs in baking for ex-engineers?

posted by casarkos 18 June | 13:01

It's now noon. Up at 6:30, had coffee and my last two cigarettes. Made breakfast while loading garbage into the car (massive cleanup in workshop yesterday following successful lightshow at Purple Church.) Played Ventures records while hauling out.

Stopped by office to pick up emergency smokes. Then to dump and then off to the reservation for a carton of cheap smokes. Listened to The Thomas Jefferson Hour on the museum radio station - talking about the French and Indian War, the sugar and stamp taxes and the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Stopped at Lowe's for high temperature paint for the smoker. Funny story about Franklin trying to distract Jefferson while Congress debated the wording of the Declaration (to Jefferson's intense agony.)

Then to the Dollar store for an extension cord and light bulbs, but forgot trash bags. Drove through Old Town, but Linda's late to work again, so the second hand shop wasn't open. Went to GrossMe Outlet and got trash bags.

Back home, it looks like the baby sparrows have learned to fly and split from the nest. Pet the bunnies.

Had more coffee (I'm being very bad today.) Puttered around in shop, finished the new polarizing projector - not enough wattage (300W needs to be at least 500W.) More Ventures. Disassembled giant stobe to begin installing cooling fan for BunnySignal modification. Got very tired (damn meds side effects.) Would like to go back to Old Town to see Linda and pick up the plastic cake cover and plate I found yesterday, but feeling too sleepy to drive. May nap or watch Hells Angels On Wheels while dozing.

Should mow the lawn but that's looking like it will just have to wait.

Everybody really enjoyed the lightshow on Friday night. I think I'll do another one in a few weeks. In the meantime, I need to rest and build up some more projectors.

posted by warbaby 18 June | 14:09

Re: The Vancouver photos... I walk my mom's dog here all the time.

It's lovely.

posted by jokeefe 18 June | 14:25

I got up early, went down to the Arts District of Toronto and shot some photos of paintings for a client. Picked up a new piece that's been waiting for almost a year for me to grab (unfortunately, not a good photo as it was framed and therefore there's a reflection)--and started salivating over a new piece that I'm sure will sell before I can get my hands on it.

Went to the Distillery District and had a nice lunch (quesidilla and a salad) at a store that charges $400 for a pair of jeans (wtf?!!?), bought some letters (a W, 3 Ts, 2 Fs and a G) from a store that sells old letters from a letter-press, just 'cause I thought they were neat. Also bought a stainless steel ice cream bucket (1 litre) with a scoop that hangs on the side as I plan to make a lot of ice cream this summer!

Came home, set up on appt to view an apartment tomorrow as I'm not digging where I am.

Typed this post.

posted by dobbs 18 June | 15:36

My playlist rocks so far, so I guess: Good!

Now if only I could fix my sleep schedule so I see taz's morning posts after I've slept...

posted by Eideteker 18 June | 15:40

I used to live at the red dot and walked/biked to school most days with a full backpack, a trombone, and an oboe. The hill is very very steep.

Also, "downtown" North Van is a bit of a misnomer ;)

posted by porpoise 18 June | 15:57

I worked today. Had to listen to people bitch about last minute Father's Day meal plans gone bad. Steaks too thin, not thick enough, we want more, more, more, MORE! Couldn't wait to leave-lucky it was only a half day. Supermarket work is not as easy as some may think. Rush home, fluff up, and wait for the in-laws to come over. Then wait for my Dad to come over. The first time I've seen him in 5 years. Our relationship is shaky, at best. Turned out not so bad. Finally sat outside in the sunset with my husband as he smoked a cigar. Perfect.

posted by redvixen 18 June | 19:05

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