Mercury in fluorescent light bulbs

News

Mercury in fluorescent light bulbs
http://wcbstv.com/local/local_story_270215032.html

Pictures from my walk

Can you spot the blue jay?

Toogood Pond

Bridge to the library

Unionville Bandstand

Pretty trees

We've been victims of credit card fraud

Today we realized someone had charged $4,000 on my husband's credit card on Tuesday. They shopped at a women's retail store on Main St Markham. It seems that on Monday he had gone to the Petrocanada gas station at Kennedy and Hwy7 in Unionville and used a machine which had a sign saying 'pay inside, card reader broken'. On the same day, there was a $99 charge at another Petrocanada in Etobicoke, about an hour's drive away. That must have been the test case. We are sorting it out with the credit card company, but it's a horrible thing to happen to anyone.

Other news of the day

6 die from brain eating amoeba in lakes
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070928/ap_on_he_me/killer_amoeba_3;_ylt=Ak35yKeijsAnwMDVje2j9RwE1vAI

Reversible male contraceptive study
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070928/contraceptive_070928/20070928?hub=TopStories

Brain cancer drug trial approved
http://www.thestar.com/article/261310

5 second test could predict heart attack risk
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_15212.aspx

News of the day

All alcohol types raise risk of breast cancer
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070927/alcohol_breast_cancer_070927/20070927?hub=Health

self breast exams and more

News of the Day

Routine self breast exams no longer recommended
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070926/breast_exams_070926/20070926?hub=TopStories

Firms should help unhappy workers
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070926/health_unhappy_070926/20070926?hub=Health

Cutting alcohol linked to lower cancer rates
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070926/camh_drinking_070926/20070926?hub=TopStories

Jamaica Kitchen video and more

Jamaica Kitchen restaurant, Miami, Florida
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LagQDGmzQXI

News of the day

Nike unveils shoe designed for American Indians (interesting)
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070925/nike_shoe_070925/20070925?hub=TopStories

Omega 3's may lower risk of type 1 diabetes
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070925/omega_070925/20070925?hub=TopStories

Acupuncture works for back pain
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070924/acupuncture_study_070924/20070925?hub=Health

Men with deep voices have more kids
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070925/deeper_voice_070925/20070925?hub=Health

Leaving the nest and Canada's top earners

Gorgeous sunny, summer weather today, the trees are looking beautiful as they turn colour however. It's not just me that has fall decorations out.

K is now into a men's shoe size 7 and he needs a new winter coat, men's size small. L's French teacher asked her if she would be willing to peer tutor grade 9 students, she's grade 10. She would get high school volunteer hours. That sounds like it would be good experience for her and she doesn't mind. She went to a sleepover at the house of an old friend on the weekend and had a great time. Wonder if she's beginning to leave the nest? (sad feeling). Hardly saw her this past week, with her being away on a camping trip as well.

Decided to make a quick banana cake this evening as I had some really ripe bananas. It came out moist and delicious as I happened to have the sourcream that the recipe calls for on hand.

News of the Day
Canada's top earners make 89K or more
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070924/statscan_earners_070924/20070924?hub=Canada

T&T Supermarket

Gorgeous day today, we are officially into the fall season and I put out a few decorations and put the summer ones away.

Today I made an early morning trip to the T&T Chinese supermarket in my area. (After 10am it becomes a zoo.) I saw some fresh dates there and decided to give them a try. It must be the season for them. They are tart, crisp and sweet all at the same time tasting of a dried date. It has a pit in the middle of course, I ate it like a small plum and loved it.

I also found some nice shitake mushrooms which we will grill on the barbecue. They have a meaty taste.

They have section where you can order dim sum to go or to stay, as well as Japanese and Vietnamese dishes and lots more cooked noodles, salads, etc. Of course, everything is very reasonably priced. There is a bakery section where I got some gorgeous looking fruit tarts, piled high with exotic fruit including fire dragon fruit from Thailand. Can't wait to try it.

The best part is all the servers seem to speak English (it's a supermarket chain from B.C.) and so all kinds of people seem to feel comfortable going there.

You can get every kind of food in Toronto, it's wonderful finding new, good things to eat. Even better if they're healthy.

the upper middle class and more

News of the Day

The upper middle class is spending its money on staff, not stuff, because having 'people' is the latest status symbol
http://www.thestar.com/article/257946

Wayne Gretzky sells L.A. home to make time for wine
http://www.thestar.com/article/258504

Wealth defense

News of the Day

Wealth defense- the biggest threat to your money
http://news.yahoo.com/s/fool/20070921/bs_fool_fool/119039801029;_ylt=AiGyWc9hJhnadjC4clzVNLIE1vAI

Humidity and some news

Wow, the Canadian dollar is at parity with the U.S. Dollar for the first time in 31 years. Wonder where it's going now?

L is away on a 3 day school trip up north until Friday. Luckily we're having summerlike weather this week, although I did send her up with a complete rainsuit. K announced his school shoes are getting a bit tight, so we need to upsize him soon. He has a cross country meet at another school this afternoon and a field trip on Friday downtown.

They said the humidity level is at 64% today, wonder if that's why I've had a nagging pain in my neck and shoulder the past week and it doesn't seem to be improving. The good news is my high blood pressure seems to be under control as evidenced by my recent visit to the doctor to renew my prescription. Oh well, maybe a walk will help. I'll go to the gym more as it gets colder.


News of the Day

Cancer stricken man commits suicide, a touching story
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/258585

When offbeat dreams become careers
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-when_offbeat_dreams_become_careers-186

cell phone use

News of the Day

Extended cell phone use causes hearing loss
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070919/cellphones_070919/20070919?hub=Health

Bone drug news and more

News of the Day

The five foods that can help stop allergies
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_14836.aspx

Asthma symptoms worsen at this time of year
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_14830.aspx


Bone drug cuts deaths, breaks in elderly

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070918/bone_drug_070918/20070918?hub=Health

Study suggests kids taking longer to grow up

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070918/kids_statistics_070918/20070918?hub=TopStories

Fall came in and it's blustery

Fall came in yesterday I think, with blustery winds and cold sweater weather. And I'm starting to think about turning the heat on for the chilly mornings, but my husband likes to wait until at least October. The cold really affects me these days, the joints feel stiff, etc. although I haven't been diagnosed with arthritis yet. Something about the middle years. Time to start hunting out the gloves and coats.

We're having our garage and window trim repainted as it was time. Found a painter doing work up the street, so we'll see what he and his team does.

K needs a bit of homework help, I find the History kind of interesting in spite of the fact that we all hate homework. Being an immigrant myself, I never studied Jacques Cartier (one of the first European explorers from France) and native history and it's a good thing to know about the country you live in. If I knew, I had forgotten that Canada was derived from the name the Iroquois gave the area around the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Montreal and Quebec.

Last year I became aware (during homework time) that water is not a renewable resource, and it evaporates into the air, comes down again as rain, goes into the earth, makes our food. So we do have to take care of our environment and all the pesticides we use, etc. Good stuff they're teaching the kids.

Harvest wine bar and more news

Had a great lunch at Harvest Wine Bar on Main St Unionville yesterday. The soup of the day was a potato and corn soup with a bit of cream which was absolutely delicious. Then I had a grilled roast beef sandwich with brie, also good. My friend had a prosciutto and bonconcini sandwich which she liked also.
http://www.dine.to/harvest


News of the Day

Police continue officer's legacy in Jamaica, heartwarming story
http://www.yorkregion.com/article/48456

Her Worship - Hazel McCallion, a woman to admire
http://www.thestar.com/article/255951

Colin Farrell helps homeless and more

Colin Farrell helps Toronto homeless man
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070913/farrell_toronto_070913/20070913?s_name=tiff2007

Pollution raises exercise risks
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070913/pollution_exercise_070913/20070913?hub=Health

Hairdresser's wife

The mornings are cooler now, some of the trees have started changing colour. Still, a great day with balmy winds and lots of sun. Stopped by a new restaurant on Main Street during my walk to make a reservation for lunch tomorrow. A friend's treat.

My hairdresser's wife made an interesting comment today, in that she hates dusting (so do I). But she does one room per day in her apartment and that's how she gets it done. She can't figure out where all the dust comes from as she lives on the 9th floor of her building (ha ha). She seems like an organized person, and I think I might give it a try..well, maybe upstairs one day, then downstairs the next. Her theory was that she does a better job in that one room per day. I don't think she realized what insight she gave me. The other thing she said was that the number one most important thing is your health. Without that, you can't do anything. True when you think about it.

The Oct 2007 Chatelaine magazine that I read at the hairdresser's seems to have a lot of good articles and interviews. It's a Canadian women's magazine.

I'm getting so absent-minded. I had some sliced potatoes baking in the oven and remembered them about an hour too late. The kids would've enjoyed those for supper. The breaded pork chops are fine. Well, time to fold the laundry and catch up on the Thursday junk mail and school letters and we'll see what else the evening brings.

Millionaires and billionaires and more

German city removes all traffic lights and stop signs to cut down on accidents
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_14623.aspx


Women's shoe obsessions worth 4.2 billion
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_14620.aspx

Multi-Millionaire wins 2nd biggest lottery prize in UK history
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_14622.aspx

Canada's billionaires few and far between but an ingenious bunch....
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070910/forbes_billionaires_070911/20070911?hub=TopStories#commentSection

Vitamin D

Vitamin D increases life expectancy
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070910/vitamin_d_070910/20070910?hub=TopStories#commentSection

Friend's birthday

Overcast and a bit cooler today. It's a girlfriend's birthday on Thursday, so we met for a nature walk this morning then we went for lunch (Chinese dim sum) with my husband M, along with L and K. It seems the restaurant closed down and there is a new one in its place so we decided to try it anyway. Turned out to be good enough and less expensive.

Then L went for a drum lesson and I'm heading over with the kids to see my mom as she's going out of town for awhile later this week.

Heard my 15 year old nephew has his first girlfriend! Oh dear.

Another friend emailed asking for my Jamaican rice and peas recipe. (I'm Jamaican, of Chinese descent). That's the first time anyone's ever asked for one of my recipes, I must be improving!

It is Chinese moon festival time of year. All I know is that these mooncakes go on sale to celebrate the Harvest. They are sweet and yummy (probably quite rich), except I prefer the plain lotus seed ones without the egg yolks inside.

Well, that's it for now.

Morning walk

Gorgeous sunny day today, no humidity like the last couple of days. Went for my morning walk and stopped by 2 garage sales on the way home (couldn't resist). One was put together by a group of families and the proceeds were going to Haiti. I got K an Elvis wig there for 50cents, still sealed in its original packaging (Halloween is just around the corner).

K has been religiously reading this Driver's handbook I bought, thinking L could get a head start on driving as she turns 16 next year. Good to see, as he doesn't really read unless he has to.

cell phone charms and popcorn

News of the Day

cell phone charms could contain high levels of lead
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070906/cellphone_lead_070906/20070906?hub=Health

popcorn lung patient inhaled fumes daily

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070906/popcorn_patient_070906/20070906?hub=Health

Xmas cards

Got a pack of Christmas cards from the Wildlife Foundation today. Guess it's not too early?

My son K is learning about metaphors in Language class and is already meeting some new friends in his class (evidenced by new requests for MSN connections). My daughter L has to get ready for a camping trip in a few weeks, including full rain gear. We got her the cutest rubber boots from a 'Winners' store. L has to write a page for History on what it means to be Canadian. A new boy started in her class, just arrived from Iran last week. Wonder what he can say on this topic? (Smile)


News of the Day

popcorn chemical being removed by manufacturer, thought to cause lung ailment
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070905/popcorn_070905/20070905?hub=TopStories

global happiness index and more

Sleep is key to kids' learning
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070903/sleep_research_070903/20070903?hub=TopStories

Canada beats U.S. in global happiness index
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070831/happiness_070831/20070903?hub=TopStories

Rogers Chinese Lantern Festival

We plan to go to the Rogers Chinese Lantern Festival this evening, sounds interesting...


http://www.chineselanternfestival.ca/







News of the Day


10 Favourite gossip blogs (I liked the pictures at x17, go fug yourself, and tyler durden, added to my favourite blogs)

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070831/showbiz_blogs_070901/20070902?hub=TopStories


Fruit flies prefer fizzy pop



http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070902/fruit_flies_070902/20070902?hub=TopStories

Competitive eater wolfs 173 wings in 12 minutes

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070902/wing_eater_070902/20070902?hub=TopStories