… November is my least favourite month of the year. If it happens to be when you celebrate your birthday or anniversary or any other occasion that’s important to you, please don’t take it personally. My distaste for November has nothing to do with you.
I don’t like it because it’s dreary. Dull. Sure, there’s the odd sunny day, but mostly it’s grey and damp and dismal. The days get shorter. It gets dark earlier. Piles of leaves cover the roads and sidewalks and Continue reading
I’m just publishing this now, but I wrote it a week ago this past Sunday. I delayed it because a day later 
tragedy struck Toronto; and at the time it just didn’t feel right to talk about trivialities 24 hours after 10 innocent people were killed and 14 others injured when a disturbed man, who allegedly was angry because he was spurned by women, purposely drove his rented van right into them.
The Sunday this was written I was sitting on a patio — at long last — at my local Starbucks, savouring both the beautiful weather and a tall Pike Place (medium roast coffee). This past Sunday — a mere week later — I awoke to snow. Yes, snow, at the end of April. You’ll be happy to know, today it’s expected to hit 23 celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit), so all is right with the world again — at least in terms of the weather.
Writing a post celebrating being able to sit on a patio may not seem Continue reading
I’ve always dreaded Fall. Silly really, especially as it’s probably one of our most beautiful seasons; 
but in all honesty I’ve never appreciated it because winter follows, and I certainly couldn’t be called a cold weather enthusiast.
Something’s happened though and, dare I say, autumn is fast becoming my favourite time of year. I know, perhaps I should lay down and see if it passes.
First off, there’s the colours. Some of the reds are so intense, so almost neon it’s as if the leaves are on fire. And all the different shades of yellow and gold and orange and rust and green and even chartreuse, all mixed together willy nilly, as only nature could Continue reading
Yes, I’m superstitious. And that’s why I try to be careful about making predictions. Prognosticating. Assuming. Planning ahead. Counting my chickens. Because the last thing I want to do is jinx 
myself. Put a hex on things. You know. Screw things up. And then curse myself forever and a day for having such a big mouth, for blowing it.
So let’s just say the signs are all pointing in the right direction.
Saturday, while I was out and about, I could see that restaurants and cafes had their terraces open; and, people were out there, enjoying the weather. The streets were packed. Old folks, Continue reading
Considering this has been one of the coldest winters (and snowiest in some parts of the world) in history I can hardly believe 
I’m saying this: I was shocked the other day to read we have to change the clocks again next week, March 8 to be precise. So soon?
Where’s the winter gone? Oh, I know there are a lot of you reading this who think I’ve lost my mind. Especially those who live in Boston and may not see pavement again until June or July. If you’re lucky.
Let me clarify. It seems to me it was always later in the season when we did this. You know, move the clocks ahead. Spring forward. Fall back, spring forward? Continue reading
What a difference a day makes. On Friday, Toronto was a ghost town. Yesterday, it was a total zoo. People everywhere. Young people. Old people. Couples. 
Singles. Parents. Kids. Men. Women. Boys. Girls. With dogs and without. City dwellers. Suburbanites. Tourists.
There wasn’t a square inch of space without someone sitting on it. Standing on it. Driving by. Walking past. Or waiting in line for it. Sure, stores being open again probably accounted for some of it. This being a long weekend also probably accounted for some of it.
But mostly, it was the weather. It had to be.
Yes, indeed folks. You heard it here first. I am here to report winter is over. Pack up the shovels and the skates.
Well, we’re on our way now. I think it’s fair to say the dark days of winter are behind us. We may have lost an hour of sleep, but we’ve turned the clocks ahead and we’re 
officially in daylight savings time.
We’ve turned the corner. Hallelujah!
And you know what this means, don’t you? Longer days are here again. And warm weather cannot be far behind. Consistent warm weather. Oh, I know we’ve had days here and there, where we’ve had Spring-like temperatures. But then, just as suddenly, we’ve been hit with snow and cold.
But at this point, it doesn’t really pose much of a threat. It’s just Mother Nature’s last hurrah.
Because now. HA! Now it’s for real.
I love my sleep. But let me tell you. Never was I so happy to give up an hour. What’s an hour compared to more daylight? And more and more every day? Until it’s still bright at 9 pm. Hallelujah!
It was a bit darker when I got up this morning, which never makes me want to spring right out of bed. But
Remember how excited I was yesterday? I could smell Spring in the air. Do you also remember the last sentence I wrote? No worries. I’ll refresh your memory: 
“Mother Nature can be a real bitch, you know.”
Well, she was certainly right on cue. Went to bed Tuesday night listening to howling wind. And I do mean howling. But there’s more. We also had a combination of swirling snow and rain. Went on all night. Was still going strong yesterday morning. Now we’ve got piles and piles and piles of heavy, ugly, dirty, messy, disgusting slush! Ponds at every street corner, too wide to jump across. So guess what?
Yep. No other choice but to wade through them. Up to your insteps, if not higher. Sidewalks are a royal mess. Roads are a royal mess. And God help us if it gets cold. Because it will all freeze; and then driving and walking will be absolutely hazardous.
So yes, Mother Nature can be a real bitch. She’s certainly proved it over the last two days. Can’t you hear her cackling? I can. And, while I’m no shrink, I think she’s also unstable. Hormonal at best. I wonder if she’s ever tried taking Evening Primrose Oil. Might be a good idea.
Can you do me a favour? If you’re talking to her, try suggesting it. Continue reading
I woke up yesterday morning with a terrible case of Spring fever. Hit me suddenly, too. Could be because it was so bright and sunny, so early in the morning (must have been my mother’s doing. She passed February 26, 2007, but she was clearly being her usual, cheerful self, sending me a message and saying “Hi”).
Not a cloud
in the almost over-saturated, beautiful, blue sky.
Could also have been the influence of my two cats, who were far more ‘lively’ than they’ve been in a while. Full, and I mean full, of piss and vinegar. As if they’d just woken up after a long, deep sleep. Chirping at me, jumping on and off the bed. On. Off. On. Off. Dancing on my head. Butting noses with me. Purring madly.
As if to say, “Come on, mommy. Get up. Get up. Get up. Time to drag your sorry ass out of bed! Look outside. It’s Spring!!!”
Whoa!!! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
But I have to admit, I felt it too. I had more energy, myself. And it was a ‘different’ kind of energy. It wasn’t the Continue reading
365 And Counting 