It’s been a week now and I still can’t really believe it. My brother had a heart attack on the 10th of May and while his heart was repaired, complications ultimately led to his death. I’ve thought about a lot of deaths — anticipating my parents’, imagining the loss of friends, considering my spouse’s when I was married, even thinking about my own. Of all the deaths I’ve ever considered, Dale’s was one scenario I Continue Reading →
While I have greatly expanded my comfort zone in recent years, there are still a lot of things that exist well outside that zone. Traveling to another province to take in a two day music festival full of many hip-hop acts I’d never heard of before this weekend, well that was outside my zone. Luckily, Juggalos are a very welcoming group and that’s what this festival was: the Canadian Juggalo Weekend — the first of Continue Reading →
In the grand scheme of things, we get only a limited number of years to live out on this planet. My biggest take-away from Carl Sagan’s Cosmos all those years ago was just how brief human existence really is. My life thus far has included some great years and some shitty years and as much as 2016 has included some big downer moments on the global stage (yes, I am casting a stink-eye at the Continue Reading →
Twas the night before Christmas in my little flat That I share with my kid and a wee skittish cat I purchased new stockings and put up a tree But decor’s at a minimum this year for me I’ve no Christmas baking but plenty to eat I picked up a gingerbread kit to complete There’s also a fruitcake and chocolates galore Not skimping on calories, you can be sure. It still doesn’t feel like it’s Continue Reading →
When I bought the Minty Beast, my ’86 Tercel in January, I expected it would last me 6 to 12 months. I got nine. Toward the end of October, the brake light started going on without the brakes being engaged. Turned out the brake lines were a mess — so had those fixed. While doing that, my mechanic had a look over the rest of the car and came back with an estimate for work Continue Reading →
This weekend is Thanksgiving here in Canada and I have the ingredients for a mostly traditional turkey dinner with pumpkin cheesecake awaiting me in the kitchen as I enjoy my morning coffee. I’ve done laundry and spent time reading about the state of the world today, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my life. I am thankful that kiddo is with me today (she’ll go to her Dad’s for a thanksgiving Continue Reading →
Maybe I am showing my age, but when I hear whispers of “Mango…,” a part of my brain leaps to the SNL character played by Chris Kattan, the running gag being that the ambiguous character was irresistible to virtually everyone. The rest of my brain is simply saying “Eww,” because mango is not a fruit I enjoy. So when every other cask at this year’s Great Candadian Beer Festival turned out to be mango-something-or-other, I Continue Reading →
Forty seven is an odd number. It doesn’t yet roll off my tongue, but I’m so very grateful to be here. I have everything I need and virtually everything I want. I’m healthy, housed, and loved. I finally feel close to whole again now that I’ve stopped trying to compartmentalize or hide aspects of myself. Whether you call it openness or honesty or transparency, whatever it is, it’s working for me, for the most part. Continue Reading →
I swear it was just May last week and yet my birthday is around the corner. Yesterday some asshat posted a “six months to Christmas!” cartoon. A year ago I was in San Francisco and filled with joy about that adventure. This year, I’ve yet to make any plans as it’s been Busy As Usual. (I swear, 2016 will be remembered as the year I had no choice but to schedule everything!) Of course it Continue Reading →
When I woke up Thursday morning, the idea of going back to school was not on my mind. In fact, it hasn’t been on my mind for, well, decades. And yet a newsletter prompt took me to a link for the Public Relations Diploma program offered through UVic’s Continuing Studies — it’s delivered online; there are just 7 required courses plus 3 electives to complete the diploma; there isn’t a specific timeline and the cost Continue Reading →