A scientific mystery

M: I don't know why, but the sun in the fall at this time of day seems really bright and intense.
C: It's because of the angle of the sun.
M: Isn't that always the same?
C: No. The sun is moving towards the Tropic of Cancer so the angle of the light is different. I think.
M: I don't get that.
C: I think physics explains it.
M: There are things physics can't explain. Like why the moon looks so big when it's close to the horizon.
C: Or why I'm so awesome.
M: It's true. It's one of the great mysteries of science.

HRH

Terms of use

C: Did you see that American money was one of the suggestions I got for your anniversary gift on Twitter?
M: I liked the moustache one.
C: Yeah, you can be sure that won't happen.
M: Oh it's happening in November (Movember).
C: Ah yes. Movember, the month of no kissing.
M: Well, not kissing you.
C: I know it doesn't say it explictly in our wedding vows that we don't kiss other people, but I think it's implied.

HRH

The Kelly Clarkson scale

*As Kelly Clarkson's Miss Independent comes on the radio.\

M: I don't want to admit it, but I still like this song.
C: That's alright. There are some Kelly Clarkson songs that it's okay for a straight guy to like.
M: Really?
C: Oh yeah! It's totally acceptable for you to like Walk Away, Since You've Been Gone or Miss Independent.
M: Even Miss Independent? Isn't it all about female empowerment?
C: Not really. It's about how she's giving up being independent because she's fallen in love.
M: I should really listen to the words some times.
C: Admittedly, it's closer to the line than the other songs. You'd really get into trouble if you liked Because of You, Behind These Hazel Eyes or Breakaway. Breakaway would be bad.
M: That would be crossing the International Gay Line?
C: Pretty much.

HRH

:)

Matej: I like that your last two blog posts have been about makeup brushes and complex psychological issues.
Chelsea: I was just about to write one about body oil.
Matej: Perfect

HRH

You can take the man out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the man

M: He also wants to go camping this summer.
C: I actually think you'd like it more than you think. Camp grounds have showers and amenities.
M: I'd only like it if it involved a cabin and proper facilities.
C: You'd see all kind of birds. Get to play guitar by a campfire.
M: Not all of them, and he seems way more of the roughing it school.
C: I actually like camping, but I also like comfort.
M: But when someone mentions camping I think, "Did we lose a war?"
M: It's like a slap in the face to progress and human achievement.
C: You don't like the idea of being immersed in nature?
M: Not over night.
C: That's too bad.
M: I don't see why someone would choose to sleep outside when there is perfectly good shelter elsewhere.
C: Cause you're sleeping under the stars.
M: And with the bears.
C: The bears will be asleep.
M: Not if they're hungry.
M: And bugs and vermin and...
C: There's bugs and vermin in the city.
M: Not in my bed.
C: In your pillow case...
M: OK, once.

HRH

Cruel to be kind

M: I think you're making up this whole snoring thing.
C: I can assure you that you snore. You snore every night.
M: But you tell me I'm snoring when I'm not even asleep.
C: Yet somehow you're snoring. It starts a quiet and then it builds to a crescendo I am unable to ignore. I usually give you a nudge and you reset to quiet, but then a matter of moments later the whole snoring cycle starts again. Moving you is the only thing that works.
M: I think it's a conspiracy between you and my parents.
C: How's that.
M: They're the only other people who've told me that I snore.
C: I'm sure we could track down a couple of your ex-girlfriends and ask them.
M: None of them ever told me I snored.
C: That's because they didn't love you.

HRH

How much is that Chelsea in the window?

M: There's a place in Toronto (on Huron Street) called The Chelsea Shop. We should do a picture of you there.
C: Do they sell Chelseas?
M: That's my theory.
C: Finally I can determine my market value.
M: I'd guess pretty high.
C: Awwww.
M: Well, shucks
C: Seriously though, what do they sell?
M: I don't know.They seem to host events, mostly.
C: Funny, so do I.
M: ha ha ha

HRH

Full Pedantor rising

C: There's going to be a full moon tomorrow.
M: Is that so?
C: A lot of people think it's today, but they're wrong.
...
C: Do you want to know what this full moon is named?
M: Do I have a choice?
C: It's the "Full Hunter's Moon." Because the earth is closest to the moon this time of year, the moon rises sooner so there's hardly any time of full darkness between sunset and moon rise, which makes it easier for hunters to track prey at night.
M: Don't animals sleep at night?
C: I'd guess it's a lot easier to hunt a sleeping animal.
...
C: I love moonlight. *sighs wistfully*
M: You know, it's not actually light from the moon.
C: I know. It's the light from the sun as reflected off the moon.
C: *whispers* Buzzkill.
M: Did you say something?
C: Nope.
M: Am I being Pedantor?
C: Yes. Yes you are.

HRH

Genetically pre-disposed to buying uselss crap at Canadian Tire

herhighnessness: Canadian Tire is a dangerous place.
drvesmir: Oh yeah?
drvesmir: What did you get?
herhighnessness: Ant traps, Christmas ribbon, small garbage bags for the green bin and glow sticks.
drvesmir: Glow sticks?
drvesmir: Are we raving?
herhighnessness: I almost also purchased decorative garland for the front door, a large glass measuring cup and dryer sheets.
drvesmir: I'm still confused about the glow sticks.
herhighnessness: I'm not entirely sure why I got them.
drvesmir: OK. That's fair.
herhighnessness: It just seemed like something we should have around.
drvesmir: Why didn't you get the dryer sheets?
drvesmir: That sounds like something we would use.
herhighnessness: They didn't have any.
herhighnessness: But we need them.
drvesmir: Gotcha.
herhighnessness: I'm rather amazed that you're not getting upset with me for buying more Christmas ribbon.
drvesmir: I expect it now.
drvesmir: No use fighting it.
drvesmir: I'm sure I'll buy something ridiculous soon.
herhighnessness: :)
herhighnessness: it's really nice!
drvesmir: I'm sure it is.

HRH

Something's missing

C: Okay, what does "Here's the 1,2 pitch" mean?
M: It means the pitcher is throwing with one ball and two strikes.
C: Okay.

Two pitches ensue

C: Okay. So it's three balls and two strikes and that makes it a full count.
M: Yes.
C: See I'm starting to understand the game, it's just the caring about it that's my problem.

HRH

Marriage: year one

Our first year of marriage has been bookended by fire alarms.

At our wedding last year, just a we had finished dinner, our MC Wendy was about to take to the mic to start the speaking portion of the evening when a fire alarm went off. There was another wedding at the inn that night and one of their table cloths had gone up in flames. The dutiful Canadians in the crowd all got up and went outside in an orderly manner, while the Czechs and Americans sat out the fire alarm inside, something we all found awfully amusing. It was the true Canadian obedience I'd told Wendy about in action.

The tablecloth was eventually subdued and we were all allowed back into the inn after an impeccably timed after dinner 7th inning stretch. I was actually kind of pleased about it because it meant that I actually had an opportunity to wear my veil as a wrap.

Just 30 minutes ago, a year to the day we got married, we were jolted out of bed for a real fire alarm as one of the tenants in the basement had left some pasta sauce on the stove and fallen asleep. All was remedied, but as we got back into the house and got settled, M commented to me "I guess it's all about fire alarms with us."

We're new to the concept of anniversaries. When we got together in 1998, things were a little blurry and complicated so we've never really had a date to mark the relationship with. There were all these new things to sort out. Do we celebrate on the actually anniversary day (yes) or the nearest weekend (no)? Are we doing gifts (yes)? There were details to sort out. Apparently it's been solidified that it has to involve a fire alarm in some manner.

Which is definitely one way to get your heart pounding and make you take notice of an important event. Not that I need help in making my heart go pitter-patter when I think of M.

Being a newlywed was great and I think we've started this marriage off in a wonderful way. The whole matrimonial experience has been more than I'd imagined it could be. But to be honest, as cool as it's been so far, I'm almost more excited about what's come in the future. Even if it means always having a fire extinguisher near by.



Today's sing-a-long song: "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service

HRH

Fallout from the season premiere of The Hills as heard in the car on the way home from work

M: I felt dumber for watching the two minutes of it that I saw.
C: Listen, the only thing that you watch on TV that I mock is baseball.
M: And I only mock you for watching The Hills. Besides, watching baseball makes me smarter. I'm learning statistics.
C: Inane statistics and fat men in unflattering pants. I watch The Hills mostly for the clothes. Two of them work at Teen Vouge.
m: Yes TEEN Vouge.
C: Still stylish. And it's entertaining. Spencer is such an ass. He and Heidi said they needed art for their living room and decorated it with the word Hollywood done in graffiti and she didn't even flip out on him. She just asked if he got any white paint as well. She doesn't stand up to him. She's so brainwashed.
M: She's told to act brainwashed, so that you'll want to watch the show.
C: Are you suggesting that The Hills isn't real?
M: Okay, get out of the car. I'm not even slowing down.

HRH

Completely age appropriate

As heard while we listened to Lip Gloss" by Lil' Mama on the drive into work today:

M: What are we listening to?
C: Lip Gloss by Lil Mama. It's rather popular with the youngins.
M: You're musically regressing.
C: No. This song was meant for me. It's all about how awesome her lip gloss makes her and about how it's totally worth going for the premium brands.
M: It sounds like a song about highschool.
C: No, honey. It's a song about lip gloss. High school just happens to be the most appropriate setting.
M: Uh huh.

HRH

My best editor

Danny: You gotta walk before you crawl.
Rusty: Reverse that.


M: You should have used the Ocean's 11 quote for your last blog title.
herhighnessness: But I reversed it.
M: But now it makes sense
herhighnessness: Yes.
M: And in your case you never crawled and now you have to basically learn how, so the Ocean's 11 way makes more sense for you.
herhighnessness: Yes, but this makes more sense to people in general.
herhighnessness: And I have to learn to walk.
herhighnessness: Not crawl.
M: But wouldn't the slightly confusing way be more compelling?
herhighnessness: It would still be confusing, no?
M: The only reason I say so is that now it sounds like just a regular saying, but if you keep it the way it was, people may recognize the quote or at least be more compelled to read on.
M: Your song should have been from Ocean's 11, but now I'm just being really picky.
herhighnessness: I don't remember Ocean's 11 having a song about walking.
M: That's probably true.
M: Yeah, no really good songs:
herhighnessness: I love that you actually looked.

HRH

Always setting a good example

A rare double post today, but for very good reason. Today my wonderful parents celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary! They're both pretty private people so I won't go into gushing detail about them, save stating that they're amazing people, wonderful parents and I couldn't love them more. I just wanted to take a moment to recognize how happy I am for them that they've been able to share the last 40 years as best friends... and had two fabulous daughters in the process (modest too!). I raise a glass to you both tonight.

Today's sing-a-long song: "Time in a bottle" by Jim Croce

HRH

Compliment with caution

C: Those pants still look really good on you.
M: Still look good on me? Have I gotten fat or something? It's not like I wear them that often that they would be wearing out.
C: I was just referencing the passing of time. Though time has passed, those pants still look good. It was just a compliment.
M: But why would you use still? Do they look good on me despite something?
C: When did you turn into a girl?

HRH