And then they gave us the turkey.

It is official: Gavin and I have been in Toronto longer than planned.

I moved here in 2000 expecting to keep it short and sweet - two years, tops - and Gavin arrived in 2001 expecting a similarly brief stay. Ah, what love can do to the best-laid plans!

We inherited this turkey candle from the latest of our grad school friends to leave Toronto in favour of very good prospects elsewhere. They inherited the glowing gobbler from its original owner, who placed it in a position of honour at her Thanksgiving celebration every year while she was here.

Having it on my piano is weirding me out a bit. It feels like the end of an era is staring me in the face with a glossy, waxy lumpy sort of stare.

Is this turkey some kind of amulet? Are we a mere few months from our next adventure? Hmmmm. And, what do I do with this thing? If I should, say, box it up and mail it to its original owner, would that be doing the "ceremonial passing of the turkey" a disservice? There is only one other person in Toronto who could receive it after us, and I'm not sure she would want it...or that she really qualifies, as a British citizen, to inherit the American grad student's turkey candle...thoughts, anyone?

Do you remember this waxy bird? Share some memories with me please - I'm feeling nostalgic. And did I mention, also a bit weirded out.

Sipping like her sister

Lillian's new favourite thing on the first day of their relationship.

After months of looking sneaky, making a fast grab and tearing down the hall with Morgen's water bottle in her hands, Lillian has finally received one of her very own.

It was love at first sight in the store - no second guesses, she knew exactly which one she wanted, and she cuddled it the way some kids cuddle teddy bears. She screamed when it had to be scanned so I could buy it. And then she laughed when I gave it back to her.

And then she screamed when I took it away so I could wash it. And laughed when I gave it back to her.

It has mostly survived her love. Within one week, the bottle was dented, scratched, and the orange cap was broken off, leaving only the twisty-sippy spout for her to play with.

Morgen's bottle says "Hydration is fun" and features elephants and bluebirds. She doesn't love it, but she knows it is hers. It still looks new, except around the spout where she has chewed on it ever so slightly. Lillian's bottle is covered in large-eyed, innocent-looking woodland creatures, and it has more war wounds than can be found on vessels five times its age.

I think I'll wait a year or so before buying a replacement top.

What seems like a good idea at the time...

...predictably turns out to be just another excuse for a bath.

(Please forgive the fuzzy pictures. I was too busy trying to avoid becoming the next canvas...and trying to keep Lilli from eating the paint...)

Start spreading the news

Gavin is making me a Manhattan - we've been home for three days now. The four of you who read this blog are probably wondering when you can tune in to Jeopardy! to see him in action.

The truth is, they won't tell us if he's been shortlisted. After being put through a kind of short version of everything that goes on during the television show (the public 'get to know you' segment, a simulated game play in groups of three with buzzers while the competition waited and watched) and then being tested again with another 50-question quiz, Gavin's audition group was told "don't wait by the phone." At some point over the next eighteen months we may get a call and an invitation to travel to Los Angeles on our own dime...or we may not. Don't worry, we'll keep you posted. Or I will, at least. Gavin is still very secretive about the whole thing.

But wasn't that a great excuse to travel to New York?

It was a surprisingly familiar place - around every corner there was another building or skyscape that I had seen in a movie, or heard referenced in a song, or had sung about myself when I was much younger. And while we did manage to spend a lot of money in the city, I'm happy to say we also found a lot of things that were "real good, for free." We also caught up with some old friends from my musicology days, who happened to have connections at a truly lovely restaurant. The company and food were some of the best I've enjoyed in a long time.

And yes, everytime I saw a mom with her kids doing any number of the fabulous things for families that can be done in that city, I either teared up, or just went ahead and cried.

Most of the time though, New York confronted us with marvel after marvel. I know real life is never that simple - I won't try to tackle the darker side of Gotham in this post. For a tourist, it is a great city.

Here are just a few of my favourite New York things.

Indulging my geeky side at the Museum of Natural History.

What is "Gavin's favourite dinosaur, Alex?"

I love this kind of art. Bas-relief? Walls that aren't just walls.

I also love seeing this side of Gavin. Without the kids, he gets even sillier.

Random words of wisdom from the decor of a seventeenth-century virginal in the instrument collection of the Met.

Jeopardy!

Gavin is going to audition for Jeopardy in New York on Monday. And I'm going with him. The children are going to Camp Lovett, and Grendel is getting some quality time with a cat-deprived friend of the family...it's looking like it will be an entertaining long weekend for all of us.

Please help us decide

1) The things Gavin should share on his "bits about you" form?

2) What should he wear to his audition? Let's face it, neither one of us has much fashion sense.