poll: moving

Added 1,200 words to my novel yesterday, sent out two magazine queries, started researching a few others.

I don't feel like throwing up when I run anymore, which is a good thing. I made attempts to keep running outdoors throughout the summer ("heat? what's a little heat?"), but it wasn't always pleasant. Eventually I gave in to the inevitable and worked out at Curzon's which, although not nearly as scenic as running along the lakeshore, is blissfully air-conditioned.

But it's the end of summer now. Most of the tourists have gone home, and the morning air is cool and fresh, the trail devoid of World Catholic Youth. Running along the waterfront yesterday, I watched the reflection of the sun on the water, thought about everything and nothing. My current running music: Jeff & Maya Bohnhoff, Aimee Mann, Soul Coughing. In case you missed my fangirl ravings about their new album, "Manhattan Sleeps", and haven't bought the CD yet, stop reading this Blathering and GO OUT AND BUY IT NOW! I told JeffB that I was too embarrassed to tell him how many times I've listened to my copy already.

Felt good to run outside again, though I find that I'm more aware of the fumes from passing traffic (especially while waiting for the lights at the Gardiner Expressway to change) and smokers. Yesterday, I actually felt nauseous after a particularly noxious-smelling truck rattled by, and I could almost feel the minute oily particles coating my skin, my hair, my lungs. *gag. On my run back, I ran through at least half a dozen clouds of cigarette smoke from frantically puffing office workers on break.

So though I was originally highly resistant to Jeff's suggestion that we move, I admit that I'm gradually softening to the idea.

It would be nice to run in a place where I didn't feel the need to wear a gas mask, and having more space in my home office would be nice. Yes, I know I'm lucky to even have a home office. I think I got spoiled a couple years ago when I moved into the Inkspot office on Mowat Avenue. Reason for move: lack of space at home! I'm back to being a fulltime freelancer, but can't help but feel somewhat claustrophobic sometimes.

Even nicer would be the ability to FINALLY UNPACK ALL MY BOOKS. I still have books packed away from when we moved from Orangeville, and that was nearly ten years ago. Every so often I'll remember one of my books that I'm craving to read again but is still buried in a box somewhere. We've never had enough room for them. Even now, I have a lot of my books double-shelved.

Jeff and I have been researching house prices in Toronto and have been discouraged, so are starting to investigate outside of the city, with a focus (at my request) on places along the GO train line. Though I have a driver's license, I hate driving and also have poor night vision; I haven't driven a car since we moved to the city years ago. One of the great things about Toronto is that I can go pretty much everywhere by subway and bus (or walk!).

Thus one of my goals is to find a place from which I can access Toronto relatively easily on my own whenever I want to; I'll go nuts otherwise.

We had lunch with our friends Elizabeth and Bryan yesterday at Fune. Elizabeth lives in Aurora, and Bryan's planning to move there soon. Jeff and I deluged her with Aurora-related questions since Aurora is one of the areas we're considering.

I still love downtown Toronto, and a part of me is heartsore at the thought of leaving this neighbourhood with its bustling activity, bookstores, theatres and coffee shops. Ever since we started discussing the possibility of moving, I've found myself rediscovering what I love most about this area, shoring up memories. Sure, I can always come back and visit, but it won't be the same.

But Jeff and I both agree: it's time for a change.

Poll: Moving

Do you rent or own? When's the last time you moved? How many times have you moved in your life? Do you consider your current dwelling the one you'd like to live in for the rest of your life? Do you consider yourself more a city or a country person?

Links/News:

Two years ago: I was taking harp lessons in Philadelphia.

I've added Jeff Bohnhoff's memories of Leonard Zubkoff to the Dandelion Report.

Reid's posted way too many photos of me in his Livejournal recently. :-)

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Today's Blatherpics:

	Amanda Foubister at lunch yesterday. She brought a Lord of the Rings poster for Sara and Annie.
	Coronation Park, during my run. No more mass confessionals, yay!