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We are visiting Chicago in May. It has been four years. One morning walking along Michigan Avenue. The edge of skyscraper canyon. In the distance a little girl doing great big jumps. Forward backward over and over again. As I got closer, I realized that she was running into the wind and then letting it carry her back to where she started. I wondered which was more fun: the running or the letting it carry her back; the anticipation or the illusion.

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• wish i had visited Paris and saw leviathan by Anish Kapoor but planning to visit Chicago this year so will have another chance to gaze into cloud gate
• delish brunch with Denise at Jules Cafe Patisserie: from quinoa/lentil/beet salad to chocolate cake; got chubby brioche to go
• visiting June’s new baby and new house: Claire is a happy baby; love the skylights and walk through kitchen
• ichiban sushi + Assyrtiko: “In the volcanic soil of Santorini, there appear to be some unique characteristics that develop in the grape variety, and therefore in the wine. One of these characteristics is that Assyrtiko does not lose its acidity even if it is very ripe.”

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for once it felt like February. we grabbed starbucks to warm up the walk to the barns. the music was most definitely worth the chill.
• quartet of heart and breath was a bit too abstract but nevertheless very interesting, musicians using stethoscopes to monitor heartbeat/breath and control the tempo
• Rose Bolton’s coming of sobs
• Bruckner’s string quintet in F major

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• Icelandic moss ring
• spent two hours at yorkdale: got angora sweater (on sale for $30) from French connection & hoping it comes from a French angora bunny; he got shirt from armani exchange
• vietnamese noodle lunch with Zack; he took some super nicely scented tea from his dad for me
• sushi lunch with Neil; wow sushi is wow

So Vendy is finally learning to drive

I still plan to live along the subway line for the rest of my life but driving makes traveling independently much simpler. So Vendy is finally learning to drive this year. The motivation … Iceland road trip!

Next Step: Read the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook & take the written test at Downsview Park (yes this is next to a subway station)

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• Alice Rosignoli for Ligne Roset wardrobe concept (better display than randomly draping over furniture)
• separate spaces without introducing (too many) solid walls

365 grateful project (count=120)

• fabric the color and texture of travertine
• joyful trees in liverpool
• Liz Diller to speak at Daniels (faculty of architecture, landscape, and design)

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Have had many amazing tasting trips to Niagara on the Lake over the years (2006 / 2008 / 2010 / 2011) but this is easily the best

• Mild winter not the best for harvesting frozen grapes but perfect for amble through the vines
• cecile’s house is impeccable from chocolate bread to bathroom tile
• Not impressed by Sand and Gravel in fact me thinks Ravine is more style than substance but discovered southbrook which has great style and great substance
• cattail creek was my favorite: 2008 Select Late Harvest Meritage + Dark Chocolate Butterscotch Crunch
• amazing osso bucco at epicurean accompanied by white bean cassoulet and wild mushrooms
• rhubarb pickle is perfect with pork or field greens

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• One thing I stopped doing when I started traveling for work is bringing leftover shampoo home. But cannot not bring L’Occitane home!
• Dinner with dad at le paradis. I love the open kitchen but we sat in the third (quieter more intimate) room, enjoying duck confit and conversation.
• Weekend of wine and choco with Sharon & Carl. I’m interested in: 2008 Sauvignon Blanc + Chocolat au Herbes de Provence @ Stratus; 2008 Pinot Noir + Caramalized Pine Nuts & Dark Chocolate Square @ Reif; 2010 Sand and Gravel Cabernet Franc + Salted Pretzels Dipped in Milk Chocolate @ Ravine

v-day

My relationships tend to start in the spring and end in the fall (very agricultural i know). Hence, this is only my third (maybe fourth) v-day not being single. Nevertheless, I find headlines like “Remarkable Women Making Single Sensational” ridiculous!!!

Sarah Rosen, Power Publicist: “I’d say the one thing I like most about being single is having the time to work as hard as I do, spend the extra hours doing research, going to all events, conferences or trips that interest me.”

Kelly Framel, Blogger and Stylist: her dream date is someone who can, in her words, “understand my crazy schedule! But ultimately, someone I can learn and collaborate and grow with; someone equally curious who can help me keep things interesting.”