Thoughts of Christmas, at least when I was growing up, began in September with the annual fall cleaning where every room had to be washed down from ceiling to floor so things would be clean and shiny by the holiday season. I always seemed to be the one, even though there were four other siblings, … Continue reading The Lazy Introvert’s Guide To Simplifying Christmas
In these times of heightened concerns about scams and identity theft, I would like to know who’s brilliant (read this with a sarcastic tone) idea it was to take my name and address and print it over and over again on ugly personal labels in an attempt to entice me to donate to a cause. … Continue reading How Dare You Use My Personal Info
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. That’s me having a conversation with myself. Usually an ongoing commentary on my daily activities. Actually more like an instructional video that sounds like: OK, first you're going to do this. Then you're doing this, followed by this, with the word "this" changing to reflect my list of tasks. There … Continue reading Talking To Myself
Six years ago this month, my short story collection, Prerequisites For Sleep, was published. At the time, I spent my days as a graphic designer who did some copy writing. I was in my mid fifties and had worked long and hard to make the book happen. In reality, it took ten years to complete … Continue reading That Elusive Writing Career
Why jazz? you ask. Because it is the music that moves me. It is the music that makes my body want to sway, my knees want to bounce and my feet want to tap. It is emotional, sexy and free and I have loved it for a long time. Long before I knew what jazz … Continue reading Dreams Of Being A Jazz Pianist
No doubt about it, this Halloween, this usually sweet time for so many kids, is an abnormal one. It seems that COVID has curbed trick or treating in my neighbourhood even though here in Nova Scotia we have as few as 5 cases in the province. I have to admit that I am surprised at … Continue reading Should Have Bought The Nuts
Today is the last day of your 14-day self-isolation. Starting on 28 October 2020, you can leave isolation and visit public places. Thank you for taking care of your health and the health of other Nova Scotians while you were isolating. This is the email we received this morning. Notice they did not refer to … Continue reading Freedom Cometh – The End Of Quarantine
Four years ago on Thanksgiving our family enjoyed the last holiday where all five of us adult siblings were together. That Thanksgiving has become a fond memory as we were on our best behaviour and enjoying the day. Old sibling rivalries remained buried and everyone seemed genuinely happy to be in each other's company. A … Continue reading Thanksgiving Will Always Remind Me Of My Brother Larry
There are some people who think I am a bit ditzy. The reason I don't always come across as the educated person that I am is that I am sometimes verbally impulsive. I speak without thinking. Excitement and/or wine can result in my blurting things out while pretending to be self assured or witty or … Continue reading Two Cornwalls And A Sometimes Ditz
There she was this morning in my Instagram feed, aged ten going on fifteen, making seductive poses with her cheeks sucked in and her head tilted in just that way. There she was dancing and jumping in videos and shaking her bottom towards an unseen audience. In the middle of all these is the picture … Continue reading The Little Girl On Instagram
The Doc and I are in quarantine. No we do not have COVID 19. Yes we have travelled; and because we had to leave the Atlantic Bubble, which Nova Scotia is part of, we had to quarantine upon returning home. We weren't being flippant or self righteous, we were saying our final goodbyes to The … Continue reading The Upside of Quarantine
I don’t consider myself old. Sure there are parts of my body that feel old, some parts that feel older than others; but in general I do not consider myself old. As a matter of fact, I am not even officially a senior yet because that designation doesn’t hit for another two years, two months … Continue reading Embracing My Pseudo Senior Status
Hurricane Teddy was coming and we were ready. We had flashlights and batteries. Matches and candles. Propane tanks for the BBQ and propane canisters for the camp stove and lantern. Pots and bathtubs were filled with water because, when you live outside the city and are on a well, you have no running water when … Continue reading The Warm And Fuzzy Side Of Teddy
Now that the summer heat is over and many of our outdoor tasks are done for the season, we decided to start walking again. Hurricane Teddy was on his way and we were prepared and possibly a bit antsy because that's how you get when you are waiting for a hurricane to arrive and are … Continue reading Walking The Salt Marsh Trail Anticipating A Hurricane
The sun was shining when I glanced down at my warming knee and started to laugh. I was kayaking so my knee was bent upwards and highly visible. Dozens of stubbly hairs were glinting in the morning light. They were all between one quarter and one half inch long and sticking out in all directions. … Continue reading The Grooming Habits Of A Mature Non-Girly Girl
