I’m quickly becoming one of those crotchety people who complains about “kids” today. We live and work near two large universities and, while the majority are a fantastic bunch of young men and women, there are a lot of idiots wandering our fair city. My list of grievances is long but there is one that is routinely at the top of my hit parade.
Why do they have to be such morons when they cross the street?! WHY?! Continue reading
My Chatelaine magazine came today. Whenever I see it bulging out of the mailbox I’m filled with a strange combination of excitement and pathos.
I’m excited because, well it’s exciting to get mail that isn’t from a corporation or the government. Plus, there is always the hope I’ll find a great three ingredient meal that can be whipped together in 10 minutes and is guaranteed to please the whole family.
The counterpoint to that thrill is the depressing fact that there is a Chatelaine in my mailbox. Continue reading
Posted in General
Tagged Canada, Canadian, Canadian women, Chatelaine, Cook, Home, Mother, Parenting, Pumpkin pie, Recipe
When our eldest started school three years ago, Scooby-Doo and the gang became a strong presence in our house. Now that his little brother has joined him, we are inundated! They are in a French immersion program and the school’s library has a comprehensive collection of primer Scooby-Doo books in both languages. Let me tell you, it is a popular choice for boys in the primary to grade three set.
Did you know that when a Scooby-Doo book is translated into French, a couple of the character names are changed? Velma becomes Vera, and Shaggy becomes Sammy. Why? I don’t know, but it messes with my head! My tongue’s muscle memory is sometimes too strong and I revert to their Anglo names. I am sternly corrected each time. Continue reading
Tagged Comics, Romance, Scooby, Scooby-Doo, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Shaggy, Television, Twilight, Velma
When I was eight I kicked a clown in the shin as hard as I could. I don’t like clowns. I think they’re creepy and I make it a policy to never turn my back on one. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m scared of clowns, but many people are. Coulrophobia is often cited as the third most common phobia, only ranked behind needles and spiders.
So why are so many people scared of clowns? They’re funny and entertaining, right? I’m not so sure. Let’s look at some of the clowns who were around when I was growing-up: Continue reading
Posted in General
Tagged Clown, Coulrophobia, Jack Nicholson, John Wayne Gacy, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Phobia, Scary, Simpsons, Stephen King
By now you’ve seen the pictures and clips. You have read the posts, tweets and texts. You have seen how Bostonians immediately dropped everything to look after their city. Thousands of shocked and displaced runners were clothed, fed and housed as an incredible reply to the horrific bombings. I love Boston and her people, so this didn’t surprise me. In fact, there was only one thing about yesterday that did surprise me. Continue reading
A fellow parent recently referred me to this article; To parents of small children: Let me be the one who says it out loud
You are not a terrible parent if you yell at your kids sometimes. You have little dictators living in your house. If someone else talked to you like that, they’d be put in prison.
I read that and shouted, “Hell ya!” Continue reading
Now that I’ve launched myself out into the blogosphere, it’s only appropriate that I pay homage to someone that I have quietly followed for years. Dooce, or more specifically Heather B. Armstrong, is a professional blogger out of Salt Lake City. In 2001 she started her blog as a forum for her take on pop culture and life as a single woman. This early foray actually led to her being fired from her job because she had written stories about people at work. Now blogging is her job and there is no one to fire her so she is pretty unrestrained about her content. Continue reading
Posted in General
Tagged Bangladesh, Blog, blogging, CNN, Dooce, Heather, Heather Armstrong, Oprah, Postpartum depression, Salt Lake City, Today show
Don’t get too excited; there are no actual images.
My new passport was just delivered by our mail carrier. I’m sorry I’m not home more often to greet him. I could tell he was also glad to see me and shared in the fun of a new passport by his jaunty greeting, “It’s your passport!” He seems like a lovely man. Continue reading
Posted in General
Tagged Canada, Canadian passport, Facial recognition system, Image, Ottawa, Passport, Passport Canada, Photo, Sister, Smile, Travel document
People are skeptical when I tell them I’m shy. I guess my acting, public speaking and propensity to be the life of the party is part of the problem. I now realize I’ve been using the wrong term; I’m not shy, I’m an introvert. Continue reading
Posted in General
Tagged blogging, Energy, introvert, Personality type, psychologytoday, Social media, writing
Escaping Elegance 