Speaking Pointedly
Date: Thursday December 3, 2009Posted in: Emily, Photography, Random thoughts, diesel, me
I keep thinking that I want (need) to keep writing in this here space, regardless of external commitments. Yet I spend many late nights working on both the boring accounting stuff and the fun freelance stuff. Before I know it my eyes glaze over, my body starts shutting down and I have nothing left in me to spend on writing a post. I then get frustrated because I have so! Many! Ideas! but cannot eke out any time in a day to purge my brain of all that’s bouncing around in there. My brain is about ready to burst and so here I sit, ready to dump it out and start tomorrow with only the usual five hundred (or so) things that I spin on each and every day.
-Christmas is three weeks from tomorrow. Every year, we try to scale back on the plastic crap gifts our kids get. Relatives who mean well shower them with presents, some of which end up breaking within days. This year, we used Christmas money from my Mom to buy all of their fall/winter clothes when we went to the States. We’re using Christmas money from Matthew’s parents to buy them little Canon Powershot point-and-shoot cameras. They love to play with mine, and why not get them one gift that they can bring along on our adventures, instead of loading them with toys that will soon be sent to the thrift store? Matthew and I are planning on buying them one or two toys each, plus stocking stuffers (Which we’ve done since each of them was born). We’ll spend the balance of our Christmas “budget” helping those who need it more than we do. This is not a “pride” thing. This is a “reality check” thing. We have it good, and others don’t. See also: The Advent Conspiracy
-After preaching about how we want to help others, I feel a little sheepish talking about some of the other things going on. However. We really do give a lot of our time and financial resources to others. (Not gloating! Just stating facts!) We also work insanely hard, so it seems only fair that we reward ourselves a bit. We always do so within our means. (Canadian guilt here, over-justifying everything. Sorry about that.)(Canadians say sorry a lot too.) (Um, sorry about that.)
-I ordered a new camera this week: the Canon 7D. Matthew told me to just order it already, yet I hesitated for over a week on submitting the order. (Canadian guilt!) After many (Many!) talks about it, I think I made a wise choice. I have been pretty busy with photography and photography-related gigs. My photography/freelance income more than covered the cost of the camera. Added bonus: Within an hour of telling Twitter and Facebook that my Canon 40D was for sale, I had a buyer for it (My niece, no less). Hooray for the Internet.
-The firm that I’m returning to in January is hosting their Christmas party on Friday and we’ve been invited to join them. I’m ridiculously excited about the opportunity to dress up and go to a fancy party. I bought some pretty new black pumps and jewelry to glam up my Little Black Dress. I’m also planning on wrangling my hair into an up-do for the first time in two years. There will be cursing involved, but it will be worth it. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
-I’ve had my fair share of meltdowns this week. (Tears! Snot! Heaving chest!) I’m still generally happy, but really do have too much on my plate. Nothing out of the norm, but throw in that “thing” that turns even the most rational woman into a hormonal fireball of CRAZY and I may or may not have lost it. More than once. On the worst day, I threw Miss Emily (gently) into the stroller, clipped Diesel onto his leash and went for a power walk. It’s amazing what sunshine, fresh air and exercise can do for your psyche.
-Speaking of the dog, he no longer fits in the palm of your hand.
He has the same pea-sized brain that he had when we got him, but it is now housed in a huge, awkward body. He trips over his own two (four) feet and has a tongue that cannot help but lick you from chin to forehead. I keep venting about what a stupid dog he is, but my cold heart is melting. A little. It’s our secret, ‘mmkay?
-We haven’t had more than the occasional slight dusting of snow, which is par for the course around here. We get snow, but not like those crazy prairie-dwellers do. However. The temperatures have dropped and the walk to and from the kids’ school is enough to make me question why on Earth we don’t live in a tropical climate. These frigid temperatures have made it necessary for us all to bundle up as much as we can. The toque we bought Emily while on our trip to the States has mysteriously disappeared. I blame the dog. He likes to eat cotton (Socks, face cloths, underwear (Mine, especially)) which makes me think that he ate her toque and shat it out in the woods behind our house. Silver lining: I got to buy her a new one, complete with a matching scarf:
I would maim people in order to get one of those sets in my size. I’m kidding! But only a little bit.
The word “toque” caused quite the kerfuffle on Twitter and Facebook. Apparently Americans call them…hats. Or, winter hats. Which seems pretty nondescript and also, a little bit boring. I tried to share the pronunciation through typed responses, but was asked to share a video of how to say, “toque.” I can’t believe that I’m doing this (as I state in the video), but here you go:
I think I should stop here, because really. What more is there to add? I hope you all are well and are ready for the crazy that is December. The Holiday Event Fairy has thrown up all over my December calendar and I’m wading through her mess. She owes me one. Or five.
43 Comments
uh oh! there’s one other way to pronounce it, it’s a bit more “french”… more like, “tuk”… less like, “too-k”… if you say it the way you say it where I live (lots of french folk here, haha) you get THE LOOK… which rhymes with TOQUE… haha
Comment by anji on December 3rd, 2009 @ 1:31 amI read somewhere the other day about a family that gives their child three presents for Christmas, because baby Jesus got three presents…and he also gets one from Santa. I thought that was a great idea, and a good way to curb the buying of random useless brightly-colored crap.
I am trying to think of a word that rhymes with toque, for pronunciation-explanation purposes, and it might just be the late hour but I can’t think of one. Mook? Anouk?
bethany actually´s last blog ..Tourist Tuesday, Part 2:Free Museum Tuesday at Balboa Park 
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:21 am
I know. I can’t think of a word that rhymes either. 
I grew up in Colorado and we called them ski caps. When I lived in Hawaii, they called them beanies. And here, in Tennessee, guess what they call them….toboggans! (Not kidding. I laugh in my head every time I hear a Southerner call a hat by a sled’s name.
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:22 am
“Toboggan” made me laugh. It’s like someone was all, “Let’s call them what Canadians do! I think they call them…Toboggans!” It got lost in translation or something.
We call them toboggans where I am from too and now that I live in a different part of the state I get laughed at when I call them that. I even looked it up in the dictionary once and sure enough, it’s just a sled…
Anyway, I enjoyed this post. That picture of Emily is sooooo adorable (but you already knew that).
I’m jealous of your new camera but I’m still learning how to use my Rebel.
I bet your hair looks fabulous in an updo. I can’t wait to see pictures!
Your puppy has grown up quite a bit! He’s so cute.. I want to love on him.
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:23 am
He’d love on you back – he’s the biggest lover.
Techically, a toque doesn’t have ear flaps.
Love, the toque police.
witchypoo´s last blog ..Not on the first date
Apparently, the toque police cannot spell “Technically”.
witchypoo´s last blog ..Not on the first date
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Hee. Out west, anything that’s a knit hat is called a toque.
I LOVE your Christmas scale back. We have been doing something similiar the last few years because seriously, the house is packed top to bottom!
And because I know nothing…what is the difference between the Rebel, the 40D and this new one you are getting?
Kami’s Khlopchyk´s last blog ..Snomen, Snowmen, Snowmen
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:25 am
The Rebel is the entry level DSLR. The 40D (Now the 50D) is the next level up. The 7D (and 5D) are the level up after that. The Grand Poobah is the 1D, but that’s more hard core than I can justify.
Wow, had no idea that is how you pronounce toque! Glad to know the correct way.
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Glad I could help! (I was a little nervous posting the video. )
Before we started our vacation instead of presents tradition at Christmas, we did the scaling back thing, and it was so much more awesome and meaningful giving to others who were more in need than us. Good on you guys!
Hope you have fun at your Christmas party! Ours was last night, and I wore a dress and heels and funky jewelry too. It was fun to be all snazzy-looking and have a party at a posh venue.
Sharon´s last blog ..Where in the World – Russia
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:27 am
I had a lot of fun! It was fun to get all dressed up.
Thanks for the video … we’ve lived in the States for 18 years today … and I miss the Canadian accent Nice to hear it every once in a while.
They don’t know what a toque is here in Pennsylvania either It didn’t even occur to me that people might not know how to say it.
dognutmom´s last blog ..Sophomore Year
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:31 am
I had people asking me how to pronounce it and then someone suggested a video…
I always smile when people mention my “accent” because I think it’s others who have the accent. 
I love that you posted a video! My family takes an annual fishing trip to Ontario and so I’ve grown up hearing the Canadian accent. Reading your posts doesn’t convey the accent [obviously haha] but hearing you talk put all the pieces together! There’s something I love about that accent . Very excited for you to have the 7D, can’t wait to see the photos that come from the you/7D combo.
Laura´s last blog ..Statistical Analysis of the Radniecki 2009 Road Trip
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Me neither! It’s supposed to get here on Tuesday and I can’t hardly contain my excitement!
Toque rhymes with puke! Yay for the new camera. It couldn’t happen to a nicer girl.
kim @ mommyknows´s last blog ..Toy Tuesday Giveaway – $250 Gift Card to Overstock
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Thanks, Kim. You’re pretty sweet yourself.
My Canadian guilt forces me to over-justify things too but seriously Angella, you love photography. You should have an awesome camera
My puppies love to eat cotton-y things too. All of our bedsheets are missing corners because Wolfgang manages to chew them while we’re not looking.
It’s only December 3rd and I’m already so stressed about all of our social commitments for the month. It’s madness.
hillary´s last blog ..If We Were Children I Would Bake You A Mud Pie
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:35 am
We have TWO parties next weekend. I’m excited/stressed about them and everything else.
Like I said, we call them ‘beanies’, which is remarkably easy to say I’m sure if we called them ‘toques’ people would pronounce it wrong!
This year we have decided not to exchange gifts with our friends and the boys’ cousins. Instead, we will use the money to purchase gifts for children less fortunate, and donate to the City Mission. The boys will be involved in the shopping and donating. We already give a lot of outgrown toys to local charity stores each year, the boys and I gave their playroom the ‘once over’ last weekend (3 bags of stuff given away!) … I want to teach my boys about giving to others. They already have SO MUCH.
Hannah´s last blog ..Angels or Grinches?
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:37 am
I know, right? And we buy the kids toys on their birthdays, or just randomly sometime. There’s no need to pile it all into one day.
We purge our house pretty frequently and give stuff away too.
The temperatures you get are NOTHING compared to what us “crazy prairie-dwellers” are experiencing or WILL experience. Pansy.
Also, my Californian friends from college call it a “beanie”. But I agree that “touque” is way cooler.
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:38 am
When I hear “beanie” I think of those hats that jazz musicians wear.
I can’t believe you did the video. I am glad you did because I would have went with the first verison of what not to call it. Toque it is-and speaking of which, I made my niece an adorable one, but I forgot to take a pic of it before giving it to her-need to make sure I get one next time I see her.
Heather @ Domestic Extraordinaire´s last blog ..Tomorrow I’m Blogging it Forward
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:39 am
You knit? It’s on my list of things to learn. You know, in my free time. Hee. I can’t wait to see what you made.
toque just sounds so much better than “winter hat”
Hilda´s last blog ..Pepernoten… as promised
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Amen.
I learned about the toque thing while I was in college -I lived with a bunch of Candians and they converted me – I still call the hats that now but grew up calling them “stocking caps” not sure if it’s a midwestern thing or what!
Either way, great post – the gift thing is a struggle every year with me – this year I want to scale back also but not just because of the money thing but that little thing called insanity!!! Usually the kid gets so many presents she spends the entire last bit of December and most of January over stimulated and ornery which in turn makes me a complete bear cat. Grrrr – how to solve – truly a dilema!!
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I know, right? And Graham’s birthday is December 29th, which doesn’t help with the toy overload.
Oh my word, that hat is precious. Yes, I’m American. I say hat. I don’t even know how to pronounce (or spell, since I have to scroll back) toque.
C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Seven
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I’ll keep trying to convert you
I love getting to hear your voice, even if you are talking about a “winter hat.” ; ) (Do you guys use the word “beanie” ever?)
I concur that December is a bit heinous, but I heartily believe that January is going to be amazing, for a variety of reasons, mostly because hey! not December!
Hang in there babe.
Kerri Anne´s last blog ..I Just Like To Smile; Smiling’s My Favorite.
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:44 am
You too.
As for “beanie” – that’s what I call those funky hats that musicians wear.
You sound different than I …um…pictured?
I LOOOOOVE that you posted a video to explain toque!!!
Meg´s last blog ..Drive
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:47 am
I HATE my voice, but I did it for the greater good.
I have both toques AND winter hats. They Be Different!
Victoria´s last blog ..F.Y.I.
This type of hat is called a boodlehahm (my spelling) in Pennsylvania Dutch country. That’s what I grew up calling it.
Comment by Jim on March 9th, 2010 @ 8:26 pm
angella Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Ha! I figured it would be different across the country. When I uploaded it to Flickr I stated it was the BC version.