tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31102773735902923852023-11-20T04:14:27.631-05:00Inspiration strikes. In the Kneecaps.In a Beatles vs. Rolling Stones world, think of me as The Animals.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger726125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-3496126577169980732021-03-16T21:02:00.002-04:002021-03-17T13:02:40.974-04:00Cancelling CancelBeing home for over a year now, I've spent a LOT of time on the Internet, and a lot more time than I should on Social Media. Namely Facebook, which lives rent-free in my head much more than it should, and I should in all honesty make the jump and delete my account.I've had it up to my eyeballs. 'Cancel Culture' and also 'People freaking out about Cancel Culture'If I could kill one thing withUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-23526099947855534162016-08-18T10:37:00.001-04:002016-08-18T10:40:05.207-04:00That Night in Toronto - August 12, 2016This was originally posted on my Facebook on August 13, 2016.
Have you ever had that feeling of being part of something infinitely bigger than yourself?
I felt that last night.
We’re an odd country, in that we have such a relatively small population, spread out over such a large area. It can lead to a sort of disconnect with our fellow citizens.
Last night’s Tragically Hip concert left me Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-20959250955649070142016-03-22T22:35:00.001-04:002016-03-22T22:44:46.344-04:00I am uncomfortable when not about me?It really saddens me how angry people will get when the government tries to give a leg up to anyone that is not them.Government wants to let a relative small number of refugees into the country so they can escape war and terror (and seriously.. 25,000 is the size of a town. A small town, at that.)Nope, can't do that. We have to take care of our own. We have homeless people here that need the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-26468766948841637642016-01-19T20:19:00.000-05:002016-01-19T20:19:26.982-05:00And then the waiter stabbed me with a steak knife.Once upon a time (and by once upon a time, I mean this past November) I went on a cruise with my kids and about 200 family members.
Okay, 20 family members, but sometimes it seemed like more.
On one of the last nights of the trip, my girls and I decided to go, just the three of us, to one of the boat's sit-down restaurants.
By the way, that thing about putting on 15 lbs on a cruise? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-55766106952184948002015-12-06T20:51:00.000-05:002015-12-06T20:51:21.581-05:00Self-Defence vs. Empathy.. Wait, Can't We Have Both?I've seen a few people posting this image lately on the Book of the Face:
Caption reads: We will never get rid of bullying. We should teach kids how to stand up for themselves instead of wearing pink ribbons and passing anti-bullying laws to create a society of victims.
"We will never get rid of bullying."
Well, that seems defeatist. Like, I get that there are always going to be people who Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-16421966592421402302015-11-17T19:50:00.000-05:002015-11-17T19:50:17.429-05:00Putting your money where your mouth is.Well, fuck.
Another day, another senseless act of violence, another show of meaningless 'solidarity' by changing a facebook picture, all the while ignoring the terrible things that happen to people around the world, people who look less like you.
Yup. It's good to be home.
Since the events in Paris this week, a mosque in Peterborough was deliberately set fire. A woman near Toronto Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-6117005173671496632015-11-01T22:21:00.000-05:002015-11-01T22:21:48.543-05:00Nope, Not Feeling It.I'll be totally honest.
I've kind of been thinking of taking a long-term hiatus from this blog. Blogging has been a good outlet for me for 10 or more years but lately, I'm not feeling it. I still have a lot of opinions on a lot of things, but sometimes I just feel to damn lazy to back my opinions up with facts. The kids are getting older, and they read and stuff now, so my ability toUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-6356599930333290702015-09-21T19:42:00.000-04:002015-09-21T19:42:59.787-04:00Mesothelioma Awareness DayIt's been almost two years (less about a week and a bit) since I got the news that I had cancer in my ascending colon. After surgery, six weeks off work and a much longer period of both physical and mental recovery, I'm now approaching two years cancer free (as of November 1st).
I was lucky, in that colon cancer, if caught early, is pretty easy to treat. Mine was caught very early, stage Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-63564945933797360692015-09-06T14:30:00.000-04:002015-09-06T14:30:03.320-04:00This is a friendly reminder.You deserve a day to yourself.
A day where you sleep in.
A day where you get up early, before everyone else, and enjoy the silence.
A day where the dishes don't get done.
A day where you don't wear pants. A day where you don't wear anything at all.
A day where you play video games for six hours.
A day where you lounge in the bathtub until the water gets cold and you start to nod off, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-14631461857673511242015-08-25T22:16:00.000-04:002015-08-25T22:16:59.366-04:00Three Times #KidsintheHall Helped Me Through Shitty Stuff1) Hotel LaRut
I was married, once. At 20, I was probably not ready to be married. My erstwhile ex-husband was definitely not ready to be married. All in all, marriage was a mistake. I got a couple of pretty amazing kids out of the deal, so it ain't all bad, though.
I usually don't like to use identifiers here, because privacy, but this joke may not make a lot of sense if you don't know Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-42889457932612763822015-08-18T17:59:00.000-04:002015-08-19T11:00:02.894-04:00Why Should Some Kid Get a Medal for "Just Showing Up?"Why?
"Why," you ask, "should a kid get an award for just showing up?"
Because sometimes just showing up takes a lot of guts. Sometimes gearing yourself up for the possibility of defeat takes everything in you.
Speaking as someone who was a shy, fat, uncoordinated child who heard my share of moaning and groaning from my classmates when my name was called during Phys. Ed, just showing up Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-30281958279171728542015-07-24T18:48:00.001-04:002015-07-24T18:52:24.075-04:00Alcohol, consent, double-standards and why I wouldn't want to be THAT judge.Oi. The Book of Face is a frustrating place sometimes.
I've been agonizing over whether to respond to shitty things I see on Facebook or just to take a deep breath and exercise my 'hide-button' finger when I see egregious shit being posted by people I otherwise love and respect.
It's a tough call, sometimes. Do I risk being piled on or alienating people by playing the role of feminist (orUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-46181311965500799482015-07-02T23:16:00.003-04:002015-07-03T09:21:57.686-04:00And then, all at once my head exploded - or - The tale of the world's tiniest violin, which I shall now play for these poor forsaken souls
Somebody call the wahhhmbulance, already.
Is it me, or does this article sound like the weirdest kind of humble-brag?
Somebody gave this woman a platform to tell a heart-wrenching (I think that's what she was going for) sob story about how she and her husband, through meticulous planning and what sounds like a fuck-load of privilege, achieved everything they ever wanted -- two kids, some dogs,Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-28661056974697459972015-06-23T19:31:00.001-04:002015-06-23T19:31:47.831-04:00It's like we're regressing instead of progressing.Oi people.
So, first off, it's been a while, hasn't it? Yup. I've got no excuses, only a dearth of things I feel qualified to talk about, and blogging about the day-to-day is well.. Meh.
But every so often, a story catches my eye that is so mind-blowing in it's ridiculousness that I really have to wonder about humanity.
My source of ire stems from a story of an 8-year-old girl who was atUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-65921218084762970732015-04-07T20:31:00.000-04:002015-04-07T20:31:31.727-04:00Girls and Defiance.Meandering through the Book of Face, I came across a lovely photoset that was featured in an article a friend had 'liked'.
Mom's powerful photos of her daughters show 'Strong is the New Pretty'
Admittedly, there's some issues with the title, because of course some people are just going to read the header and not the article and assume that the point of the article is to bash all things Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-7945301208929832442015-03-27T20:27:00.000-04:002015-03-27T20:27:48.386-04:002015 Resolutions: Quarter One Report, Part 1 aka the Creative Stuff.We're coming up to the end of March and as expected, after a couple weeks of lovely almost-springish weather, the temperature is taking a nosedive because Mother Nature likes to celebrate April Fools' Day early.
Back in January I wrote a post where I made some promises to myself for the New Year. I thought it might be fun to revisit that post and see where I find myself at the end of Q1.&Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-55765197016297319772015-03-17T07:57:00.001-04:002015-03-17T09:14:27.756-04:00Conversations with my kid: We both gotta get off of Tumblr editionI'm standing in the kitchen, discussing the day's events with the Well Travelled One
T: Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
Me: Are you... 'Shipping us?
T: Yeah, what?
Me: Don't 'ship us! You can't 'ship us! We're already 'shipped!
T: Ahh, then it's canon!
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-11186333310891727192015-03-08T10:02:00.000-04:002015-03-08T10:02:33.300-04:00Dream Recap: Travel Prep.It's what I am guessing is a Friday. I am supposed to leave to go to the Dominican Republic with my friend Kaylee but there is so much to be done. I sit at my computer trying to finish up last minute work stuff. With each email I check off, I discover or remember one more thing left undone. Finally, realized I have but scant minutes to pack and leave, I decide to say screw it, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-83615243682924878222015-02-27T22:38:00.000-05:002015-02-27T22:38:22.285-05:00Humility is for suckers.I got called out yesterday morning by a friend I hadn't talked to for a while. I fully deserved it. It was in regards to a facebook post I had made for a recent post on the art blog.
He pointed out that I seem to preface every post with a negative comment about my work.
Fair enough.
Not having ingested enough coffee at the time, I thought this observation to be mainly in reference Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-76156007506423848822015-02-10T21:59:00.000-05:002015-02-10T21:59:39.848-05:00So did go all that is good and pure in the world. My heart is broken.
I caught wind through fellow blogger, Lance, that during last night's taping of The Daily Show, long-time host Jon Stewart let slip that he would be stepping down from his hosting duties.
I may have cried a little. I am not ashamed.
When I saw the posted headline, I silently begged "Please be the Onion. Please be the Onion," but the AV Club's post had already Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-25495441218873400552015-02-03T18:24:00.000-05:002015-02-03T18:24:20.712-05:00Stuff We Need a Word For, Part 1 (TMI warning for ICKY LADY STUFF)"A pervasive fear or anxiety that you have forgotten to replace your tampon*, and as such, are slowly bleeding into your underpants."
Does anyone else get this, or just me?
You're sitting there and suddenly you flash back to your last trip to the bathroom. You distinctly remember removing a tampon, but have no real recollection of putting a new one in.
Did I forget? Is it still sitting Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-69170266427746995482015-01-28T22:10:00.000-05:002015-01-28T22:10:52.322-05:00High School and the Fine Art of Giving No FucksIt's amazing, you know?
It blows my mind sometimes, the way minor, yet arguably shitty, incidents and experiences can take you to a place you thought you'd left behind. Habits formed from self-preservation remain in play long after the threat has dissipated.
A 34-year-old mother of two, with a job and a mortgage and responsibilities can be reduced to an anxious, self-conscious adolescent inUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-84586119418654365522015-01-18T21:58:00.000-05:002015-01-18T21:58:18.644-05:00Aunt Laura Wasn't Crazy, After All.
Nanny and Aunt Kay. They don't really pertain to this story, but I couldn't find the picture of them with Aunt Laura.
I used to labour under the impression that my maternal grandmother was one of three girls, mainly because I never really heard her speak of any of her siblings besides her sister Kay and her sister Laura. It wasn't until I was well into adulthood that I found out that Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-38506200599844183302015-01-15T19:52:00.000-05:002015-01-15T19:52:03.766-05:00Rejection. Frustration.So it's Thursday night and the opening for the gallery exhibition I had entered my painting in takes place tomorrow night. I have not yet heard if my piece was accepted.
I'm thinking I'm skunked again.
Sigh.
I'm feeling kind of sorry for myself, I will admit. Just bums me out. When I dropped it off, I got a look at some of the other submissions and immediately felt overwhelmed and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3110277373590292385.post-56813201226187258572015-01-12T23:16:00.000-05:002015-01-12T23:16:45.186-05:00Good Night, Good Night, Sweet BabyAs an adolescent, I was moody, intensely emotional, and cynical.
Hell, as an adult, I am moody, intensely emotional and prone to bouts of cynicism. As an adult I have the benefit of years of experience to back up my cynicism.
There is a family legend, or more accurately, an anecdote that tells of how my father, in his attempt to get baby Andie to sleep, would play me Leonard Cohen and JoanUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0