Chasing Cheese
Sometimes little snippets of conversation that seem innocuous at the time become important. Evidence: a sale on cheese.
…Snowbound and Discontented
We had a lovely, low-key weekend, trapped as we were inside because of the snowfall. Just when Derek was seriously considering firing up our snowblower, we looked outside and someone had done the end of our driveway for us. Thank you, invisible stranger!
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“Just because you’re offended, doesn’t mean you’re right.” ~Ricky Gervais
Why the outrage over this viral video by Gilette?
…“Just because you’re offended, doesn’t mean you’re right.” ~Ricky GervaisRead More »
Falling Prices & Rising Assignments
The day after I finished work for good at CJBK, I got a freelance writing job with Walmart Canada. Their website is getting chock full of tips and expert advice and I’m tickled to be contributing to it.
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The Booth Life
The dream: To work from home in one’s pyjamas, when possible. Reality: it’s friggin’ awesome.
…Slippery Slope
My first apartment in Wingham had a huge kitchen and livingroom, with a loft-like bedroom and bathroom at the top of a steep set of painted stairs. A few times, when my panty-hosed feet met those steps, Lisa went bye-bye. I recall slipping all the way down, my endless fall finally broken by cracking my noggin on the wooden door at the bottom.
…Carted Away
I’ve made a few observations about this part of the province. People are nice here. Everyone says hello, or gives a wave. A man let me in front of him in the Service Ontario office and even though I told him I had a pile of stuff to do there, he waved me off and took a seat. Maybe they can afford to be nice because they don’t seem to be in as much of a hurry. Cities hurry you up, whether you know it or not.
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My Inner Kathy Griffin
Do you remember the character Griffin played on Seinfeld? As a stand-up comic, she used real encounters with Jerry in her act. It deeply embarrassed him. When he appealed to her to stop, that became a bit, too. That was a character but the real Kathy Griffin is also outspoken, honest and unafraid. No matter what she does or who she offends, I kind of love her.
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The Boss, Vulnerable
But, says the journalist, “You’re Bruce fucking Springsteen”!
“Ugh”, replies Bruce. “Bruce fucking Springsteen is a creation.”
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My Pal Alexa
The Amazon Echo, also known as Alexa, is becoming more popular every day. Derek and I have had one for a few years, dating back to the start of our involvement with the company Witlingo. We both contribute voice work to the Witlingo stable of “skills” – the term for apps in the voice-first world.
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Iron Age
Sometimes in life you have no choice: you simply have to iron. For some people, ironing is a zen activity, something they get satisfaction from. I’m not one of those people.
…All My Stuff is Here…
That’s what Derek said when someone asked him how it’s going with our move to Wallaceburg. “All my stuff is here, everything I care about is here, so it must be home!”
…The Face of Elder Abuse
This post is general and it’s personal. My former mother-in-law has had her life savings, and even her wedding rings, stolen by a couple of family members. Close ones. The ones she would never suspect would treat her like she no longer mattered. I would love to name them and shame them and hunt them down. But it’s not my place.
…Being a Child
…“There is nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.” Erma Bombeck
Bat Out of Hell*
*We don’t know for sure that hell is where the bat was from. But we wanted it the hell out of our bedroom!
…A Few of Dad’s Favourite Things II
After I posted last week’s story about my Dad’s jacket and horse-racing suit, I realized I’d handled another, similar situation completely differently. In fact, I decided immediately what I would do, instead of packing the things and lingering over the quandary. It had to do with my friend and colleague, Jodi Taylor.
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First Wallaceburg Christmas and a Pickle
Between the huge Christmas Eve gathering in Melbourne and the small but mighty Christmas Day gathering here in Wallaceburg, 2018 will go down as memorable.
…Merry Anni-birth-mas!
As we celebrate – in a row – our ninth anniversary, Derek’s birthday and Christmas, I’m bathed in gratitude.
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