Things that I notice and feel the need to comment on.
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
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
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
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
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
The Doc and I live on the Mineville end of Lake Echo in Nova Scotia. I actually grew up on the other end although we didn't live in a house on the water. When The Doc and I decided to move back to Nova Scotia from Ontario over twenty years ago, (well back for me–The … Continue reading Saturday Morning On Lake Echo
Doodlebug and NJ were visiting through the past week. What that meant was five days of trying to keep them engaged and entertained. Not an easy task. This is something I struggle with because I was a kid who was never bored. I came from an era where kids went outside after breakfast and showed … Continue reading Our Grandparent Resource Kit is Constantly Evolving
I waited all summer for the arrival of my new kayak. ...Okay maybe not all summer but six weeks through July and August, which in Nova Scotia–an area known for short summers–can be a major portion and often the best part of the season depending on the weather. Delivery was delayed of course. Delivery of … Continue reading A Tad of Buyer’s Remorse
There was a time when I was always cold, when I loved to wear fleece and sleep in sweat pants or snuggled up to The Doc, who I often referred to as my personal pot-belly stove. Not that he had the belly but he did hold the heat. That was a long time ago. These … Continue reading Mask–Induced Hot Flashes
Studies have shown that women work hard, harder than most men. In addition, they still do most of the housework and childcare on top of their jobs. Their accomplishments, large or small, are rarely recognized by men. It is like their accomplishments are invisible. I have watched and experienced this for years. Whether it is … Continue reading Women’s Accomplishments Are Largely Invisible To Men
