Those who have not discovered the culinary delight that is Tabasco on pizza are surely missing out, or, depending on how you look at it, might be doing themselves a favour as now I can't eat pizza without a bottle of Tabasco or habanero sauce within arms reach. My tastebuds are probably beyond repair but it just tastes so bland without that extra kick. In Japan most pizza delivery shops included little packages of Tabasco and occasionally jalapeno sauce with the napkins. According to Wikipedia this practise is also popular in Austria, Norway, Germany and parts of Ontario, Canada.

We've been keeping our eyes open for a two bedroom apartment since moving back to Canada but with the baby due in early January and the in-laws arriving shortly after we decided to step up the search a few notches. After losing out on a beautiful suite in a 1912 heritage house and other ideal suites that either didn't have shared laundry or even a bathtub, we decided on a large two bedroom in one half of a 1950's side by side duplex. Our rent and utilities will be going up (oil furnace) but it should be well worth it to finally have an in-suite washer/dryer, driveway, and fenced in backyard. Hopefully the current tenant will be out a week or so before the end of the month so we might be able have Christmas in our new home. Only 32 sleeps to go.

One of the best things about having kids, apart from the unconditional love and free back massages, is re-reading all your old favourite books as a child. As a gift for finally giving up her pacifier (remember that scene in The Basketball Diaries when Reggie locks Jim in his room in the hopes of getting him through one night without heroin. Picture the kicking, crying and nose running but with a two year old) I bought her a copy of a beloved Dr. Seuss book One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish and the 30th Anniversary Edition of former Playboy cartoonist Shel Silverstein's classic book of poems and illustrations Where the Sidewalk Ends. Both of which have been on heavy bedtime reading rotation. Another beautiful children's book I picked up at the library was The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. I don't recall reading this as a child, but his unique illustrations using cut-outs, watercolours, and collage are really something to marvel at and well worth putting into our bookcase permanently.

Masako can now get her fix of Japanese TV thanks to Japan OverSea Internet Television (JOSITV) -- an updated list of video files from all the major Japanese networks, including news and variety shows (which covers just about everything).

They seem to be in a very early stage, and if popularity picks up will probably turn to a subscription model. Give us the option of choosing the shows we want to watch that week and have high quality video waiting on my hard drive every day ready for viewing, and you'll have my credit card number.

Above the urinals in my office some comedian has taped up signs reminding you to Flease Plush. How strange is it then that I've become so distracted by the sound of those mangled words that I forget to flush? I'm exhausted, and I think my brain is rebelling against all the coffee mate I've been feeding it as of late.