Team Banana Wedding!
It finally happened. After over 9 years of dating, 5 years of living in sin, and 7 months of home ownership, I am officially engaged to my partner in crime Baron Zemm. It happened on Wednesday, February 10th. The quick summary of how it went down is at the bottom under the ‘more’ link if you wish to read.
Sparklor, the engagement Ring
Now that I’ve had a few days to share the news with family, close friends and then the greater internet – I must say how happy I feel. In fact, I’m actually very surprised about how happy I am. I never imagined I would be this happy to be engaged. It’s almost a bit scary. I’m thoroughly warmed by all the well-wishes and congrats from people. They all seem so genuinely happy for me and I’m pleasantly shocked.
I’ve always been a bit cynical about love and romance, even when I’ve been in this amazing relationship. I have a bit of issue with the corporate and commercial nature of weddings vs. what the real meaning of marriage should be. There are a whole lot of bananular thoughts in my head.
Regardless, I’m really happy to make it official. I’m very touched at the fact that Baron went through the process to express himself in this way and it really does mean a lot to me. I feel so redonkulously blessed that I’m a little afraid to cross the street as I fear I may be struck down soon to even out the good karma.
Another thing? Google released a suite of wedding planning templates for google docs. What could be more perfect for my nerd tendencies? Nothing!
Google Chrome, Picasa & Bunnies.
These are all the things that have been consuming my free time lately.
First: I was miracuously able to install Google’s new browser, Chrome, on my computer at work (to which I have no admin rights). I’ve been using it all day at work in place of my normal browser (Firefox). So far, I think it’s pretty neat. It definitely feels faster. My work’s site is 100% flash and now I can navigate it a bit faster. There are a few neat things – like placing an icon of an “app” (webpage) on to your quicklaunch bar, incognito mode (does anyone else think that guy with the trench/fedora/glasses combo is creepy… they should have just named it perve mode), and its overall simplicity. Will it ever beat Firefox for my love? Only time can tell.
Something that I find even more exciting from the people at google is the new Face Recognition & tagging function in picasa web! It is somewhat similiar to the ability to tag people in Facebook, except it takes it a step further by actually trying to find the faces! At first, I let it scan my entire album collection. It took about 20 minutes to complete that (I have about 30 albums with people in them). Then it showed me groups of faces, and I could enter in names (also able to add in nicknames & email addresses). This creates the tag. Then it goes through all the pictures, guessing which person it could be, and giving you a few options from your tag selection to pick from. You can also ignore, skip or tell it that it’s not a face it’s captured. So far it’s been pretty good. I’m quite impressed. A while back I had made the decision to go with picassa for a few reasons – but things like this are making it cooler!
Last, but not least… my bunnies! Huey has been settling in just fine. He has gone on two “dates” with Chompy… and that was interesting! You see, bunnies are territorial by nature and you can’t just throw two strangers into the same pen and except them to be ok with it. Combine this fact with their extremely sharp teeth and you have potential for major rabbit-injury. We have to slowly introduce them in territory-neutral areas until they seem to get along. It’s quite the process, and we did it successfully with Bukit & Chompy, so hopefully Huey & Chompy will love each other too! Here’s a ridiculous looking picture:
Chompy & Huey Cower together on the table
Of Rats & Foxes…and other animals
Recently I saw the movie Ratatouille, the new Pixar flick. I knew it would be a decent movie, because it was made by Pixar, but I wasn’t ready to be blown away like I was.
The movie is funny, cute, and silly all at once. It must be pure talent to somehow make a kitchen full of rats actually look adorable! I love it! Animation owns my heart, and there is always a special placed tucked away for animals. Remy, pictured above is quite the character. I don’t understand why he didn’t have a French accent, as it takes place in France. Hrrm.
Another animated critter that has my heart is the Fox on my iGoogle home page theme. I am new to this, but if you sign into google with your gmail account, you can select a theme that shows up as a header. It changes every 2 hours.
Here is the little Fox doing one of his favourite evening activities, playing music for the ducks that live in his pond. Doesn’t he lead the ideal life? He seems so peaceful in his Orange Orchard with his little tea house. He is ADORABLE. I think I need to make a cartoon me and put myself in his world… if he will have me. 
I went to the Toronto Zoo, but unfortunately I do not have the pictures online yet, as I used that archaic and wonderful method known as “film” photography 
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It is worth noting however, that FIREFOX has sponsored the Red Panda exhibit. I didn’t know it, but it seems that “fire fox” is another term for the red panda… it all makes sense now!
I hope to scan up those photo’s and upload them soon
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