Journey & Adventure

I wonder what’s wrong with the world and the people in it.  Can’t we all just get along? I wonder why people feel the need to share so much on social media sites. I wonder where sea gulls nest.  I’ve yet to see a sea gull’s nest or their babies, so I’m curious.  I could Google it, but I don’t really want to know.  I’m just content to keep wondering about it. I wonder how fast mice can run.  Have you ever seen them run across the road?  Those little guys sure can move! I wonder why I procrastinate.  I would feel better getting things done, but not bad enough to get moving on it. I wonder when I became so jaded towards certain people in my life.  I’m one to forgive (sort of), but never forget.  I’m trying to overcome these feelings, but it’s not easy.    I wonder what all the fuss about this ALS ice bucket video challenge is about.  I understand the disease, but enough w...

Where has summer gone? Or did it even arrive in this first place? I don’t know about where you’re from, but here, it’s been cooler and more rainy than usual. We have an “old wives tale” in our area that says when the golden rod starts to flower; there will be frost in approximately 6 weeks. Well, the golden rod started to flower about 2 weeks ago, so if the tale is true, there will be frost on the ground by mid September. My friends that I told you about a while back have officially moved to Panama. I’m so happy for them, but I won’t lie – I’m super jealous too. I know my time will come – if and when J and I can agree on a retirement destination. We each want different things and at this point, our only compromise might be splitting our time between 2 spots. Not the wisest move financially… The Boy has been home from school for a visit in between semesters. It’s been really nice having him home, but soon he will be back on his way and once again, our house will be quiet…a...

I don’t know what has gotten into me today, but I am exhausted – mentally and physically. The simple thought of walking to my car tonight after work is exhausting me. I’m thinking it’s the weather as it’s been grey, dreary and raining for a few days now. Yesterday was our first warm day / night of the year. It is so nice to have the windows open at night and listen to the sounds of the frogs croaking and rain coming down. It’s not so nice once stupid dogs start to incessantly bark somewhere in the distance. If I could only figure out where… The pace at work continues at a rapid speed. I guess it’s a good thing because my days flash by like lightning. It would be nice to actually know what day of the week it is though. My sister-in-law is coming home for a visit from Ireland this week. J and I will head to Toronto to pick her up from the airport on Saturday. It will be nice to see her, but alas – I’ll have to forgo my nap that day. *sigh* On the upside, it’s ...

As the world has discovered, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is a joke and an embarrassment to every citizen of Toronto that he is meant to represent.   Heck, he’s an embarrassment to me and I don’t even live there.   Now I understand, he's set to appear on Jimmy Kimmel and attend the Oscars - I guess all crack smoking, drunken baffoons can make it in Hollywood.   As a Canadian, I am ashamed of his ongoing bad behavior.   If Rob Ford was mayor of anywhere else in the world, the man would have been run out of town by now.  As a side note, I'm also ashamed of Justin Bieber, but that rant is for another day.   Toronto was once thought to be a world-class city by some.   However with Rob Ford at the helm, he makes all Canadians look ridiculous.   In my opinion, he needs to step aside and crawl back beneath the rock from whence he came.   Municipal elections will be coming up in October of this year and Rob Ford plans...

It’s Canadian Thanksgiving today, so in the spirit of giving thanks, here’s what I’m thankful for: I’m thankful for my family and friends. They all drive me bat-shit crazy on a regular basis, but I appreciate their quirks – in small doses. I’m especially thankful to J for taking care of the majority of the household chores - cleaning, groceries, baking and margarita making. I’m thankful for my sense of humor and the margaritas because without them, I would have totally lost my mind by now. I’m thankful for The Boy and his sense of humor because without it, he would have made me lose my mind by now. I’m thankful my in-laws are hosting the turkey dinner this year for the whole family. I’m especially thankful for not having to have those people in my house for an extended period of time and being able to leave when I want. I’m thankful today is a holiday and therefore, I do not have to spend time with my boss or co-workers. I’m thankful for my job, but would be more thankful...

Happy Belated Canada Day to my Canadian readers; and Happy Independence Day (Tomorrow) to my American readers; and Happy Battle of the Boyne Day (on Thursday) to my Nothern Ireland readers. I’m not even sure that I have any Irish followers or what the holiday is even about, but I see it’s on my calendar, so it must be worth celebrating. Enjoy! Today is my first day back to work after an extra long four day weekend. I’m struggling to say the least and while I love the extra days off, sometimes it’s just not worth the punishment of having to get back into the work groove. J and I spent a good portion of the day on Friday, taking an extra, extra long stroll on the beach. There just something about sunshine, water and sand that makes all your worries disappear. Even if the feeling was short-lived, at least the cobwebs were temporarily removed from my brain. As with much of North America, we are in the midst of a heat wave. I’m not complaining about ...

So, in response to the question - what is a toque?  Here is a repost I had done awhile back about Canadian fashion attire...enjoy the beauty of it all....(jealous aren't you?) There is no escaping the crap that is a Canadian winter and there is no denying the fact that – I am a terrible Canadian. I detest winter so much that I daydream that the Canadian government would realize how terrible of a Canadian I actually am, kick me out of the country, ban me for life from watching hockey and revoke my god-given right to wear a toque or a dickey for the rest of my life. For those not familiar with Canadianisms a toque is a hat, which is most likely made of wool, knitted in a hideous pattern and colors and perhaps with a baseball size tassel adorning the top. These wonderful items are worn with pride, pulled down as far as possible, to cover your ears and most of your eyebrows, essentially hiding the identity of the wearer. In honesty, there is no pride in wearing t...

I’ve said it before – I hate friggin Winter and I’m not coping with it at the moment…AT ALL.   For the last two months, in my part of Canada, we have been experiencing “lower than seasonable temperatures”.   Well, what does that mean?   Besides the obvious – I need a holiday. Well it means that not only is it colder than usual, it also means that my hands, legs, arms and face have lost all moisture.   I itch everywhere.   My lips are chapped and my hair is brittle.   I’m a mess and sadly I don’t care what I look like when I go out in public.   Between too many clothes, boots, oversized parkas, mittens, scarves, hats and my lizard-like complexion, no one will recognize me and really if they do – I don’t care.   I’d flip them off if it wasn’t impossible to do while wearing mittens.   Somehow, the intensity of the gesture is lost when I’m standing there waving madly with my pink mittens. Don’t get me w...

For this occasion only, please disregard my post from yesterday about being a bad Canadian. I'm still a bad Canadian 362 other days of the year, but with these Canadian icons, I couldn't be more proud to be a Canadian than I am at Christmas Time... Introducing Bob & Doug McKenzie and their version of The Twelve Days of Christmas - Enjoy!

So, in response to the question - what is a toque?  Here is a repost I had done awhile back about Canadian fashion attire...enjoy the beauty of it all....(jealous aren't you?) There is no escaping the crap that is a Canadian winter and there is no denying the fact that – I am a terrible Canadian. I detest winter so much that I daydream that the Canadian government would realize how terrible of a Canadian I actually am, kick me out of the country, ban me for life from watching hockey and revoke my god-given right to wear a toque or a dickey for the rest of my life. For those not familiar with Canadianisms a toque is a hat, which is most likely made of wool, knitted in a hideous pattern and colors and perhaps with a baseball size tassel adorning the top. These wonderful items are worn with pride, pulled down as far as possible, to cover your ears and most of your eyebrows, essentially hiding the identity of the wearer. In honesty, there is no pride in wearing this item; they...

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Canadians: The saddest part... I can relate to them all. If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you may live in Canada . If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in Canada . If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Canada . If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialled a wrong number, you may live in Canada . If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Detroit for the weekend, you may live in Canada . If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Canada . If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Canada . If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day, and back again, you may live in Canada . If you can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without fl inching, you may live in Canada ...

In celebration of Canada ’s 142 nd Birthday, I thought I would give you an insight into my heritage (as dubious as it may be)... Signs You May Be Canadian... You stand in "line-ups" at the movie, not lines. You're not offended by the term "Homo Milk" You understand the phrase, "Could you please pass me a serviette, I just spilled my poutine on the couch". You eat chocolate bars instead of candy bars. You drink pop, not soda. You take out the garbage, not the trash. You know that a mickey and a 2-4 means "Party!" You can drink legally while still a teen. You know that francophones, anglophones and allophones are not electronic devices. You talk about the weather with strangers and friends alike. You don't know or care about the fuss with Cuba , it's just a cheap place to travel to and has good cigars. You're not sure if the leader of our nation has EVER had sex and don't want to know if he ha...

You stand in "line-ups" at the movie, not lines. You're not offended by the term "Homo Milk" You understand the phrase, "Could you please pass me a serviette, I just spilled my poutine on the couch". You eat chocolate bars instead of candy bars. You drink pop, not soda. You know what it means to be on pogey. You take out the garbage, not the trash. You know that a mickey and a 2-4 means "Party!" You can drink legally while still a teen. You know that francophones, anglophones and allophones are not electronic devices. You talk about the weather with strangers and friends alike. You don't know or care about the fuss with Cuba, it's just a cheap place to travel to and has good cigars. You're not sure if the leader of our nation has EVER had sex and don't want to know if he has! You get milk in bags as well as cartons and plastic jugs. Pike is a type of fish, not some part of a highway. You drive on a highway, not a freeway. You ...

Well before we can get to the good stuff like travel and vacations, you need to understand what drives my lust for the finer things in life (aka vacations). I am a Canadian... There is no escaping the crap that is a Canadian winter and there is no denying the fact that – I am a terrible Canadian. I detest winter so much that I daydream that the Canadian government would realize how terrible of a Canadian I actually am, kick me out of the country, ban me for life from watching hockey and revoke my god-given right to wear a toque or a dickey for the rest of my life. For those not familiar with Canadianisms a toque is a hat, which is most likely made of wool, knitted in a hideous pattern and colors and perhaps with a baseball size tassel adorning the top. These wonderful items are worn with pride, pulled down as far as possible, to cover your ears and most of your eyebrows, essentially hiding the identity of the wearer. In honesty, there is no pride in wearing this item; they are...