Credit Card Hack
A few years ago, someone stole my credit card number and went on a shopping spree in Montreal. The bank deleted the charges. I went on with my life. But I thought something similar was happening over the weekend.
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Happy Vicki Day!
Yes, we call it 2-4, even when it’s only the 20th, but today is supposed to be a celebration of Queen Victoria’s birthday. The 24th of May happens to be her 200th. And here are five things about her you might not have known.
…All Hail Alejandro
American Idol – I know. Some people hate it. It’s been fascinating and annoying and – when Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj were on it – a waste of airtime. The show deserves the cynicism it attracts, too, with too many so-called Idols having faded into nothingness. Now it’s a little too sweet but I’ll take that over mean any day. And it’s almost over for another season.
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Keeping it Real
Everyone needs to really think about what quality of life means to them. But not everyone will actually do it. It’s one of those things that people too often put off and then leave their loved ones wondering. My Dad, thankfully, was clear and consistent in what he did and didn’t want. No heroics. No feeding tubes, no life support, no resuscitation.
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Writing for Lifestyle
Freelancing means working for a lot of different people. Some are one-offs, some are repeat customers. It’s always exciting when someone hires you for the first time.
…This Ol’ House – Nearly There
When we last left our 80-year-old bathroom, a contractor was due to start tearing out the cultured-marble shower and replacing it with subway tile. It’s happening!
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Celebrating Life
On Friday night, I attended an invitation-only Celebration of Life. It was unusual, and a first for me, because the life we were celebrating isn’t over. The honoree was there, at the YOU (Youth Opportunities Unlimited) Cafe in downtown London.
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Regrets, I’ve Had a Few
Recently, as I scrolled through the headlines on news websites, regrets appeared in several headlines. They happened to involve celebrities but they’re certainly not particular to the famous.
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Audiobook Availability
My first audiobook – the first one I was hired for that’s legit, paid for and I’m proud of – is on the market!
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Managing the Manager
Why are so many managers so terrible at their jobs? I mean, really, let’s be honest, when you work for an excellent manager, it’s a relief, like the beating has stopped.
…This Week in The Patterson House
This ol’ house is an adventure! It isn’t a fixer-upper by any means but it’s nearly 80 years old and that presents some challenges.
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Soft and Dried
My hometown of Smithville, Ontario, is ground zero for a wonderful initiative. An ambitious group of volunteers aims to feed the world and they’re doing it one vegetable at a time.
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Throwback Thursday – (Arguably) The Best Music Video of All Time
I was looking for something online and the Internet presented this fact to me: It’s been 18 years since Christopher Walken starred in Fat Boy Slim’s Weapon of Choice video.
…Throwback Thursday – (Arguably) The Best Music Video of All TimeRead More »
Face Time
It’s never bothered me to get captured by surveillance cameras. I know it annoys some people that everywhere we go, there’s a lens on us. Add to that, the people who feel the need to record everything, grabbing our images in the process.
…Cable TV Blues
Next year, more Canadian homes will subscribe to streaming than cable TV. It’s no wonder. Despite some improvements in recent years – a la carte channel picking is one of them – it still feels like paying for cable gouges us more than necessary. And we’re always looking for a way out.
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An Eternity and The Blink of An Eye
It’s two years today since my Dad died. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and other times I fear I’m already forgetting little things about him. No matter how old you are, losing a parent rocks your world. I’m just grateful to have had him in my life as long as I did.
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