How does a recent graduate stay hopeful? The unemployment rate for youth climbed to 14.9 per cent in May, says Stats Can. One in five young adults have moved in with a friend or relative, says Maclean’s. Most are suffering from recession anxiety, says the Calgary Herald. If you’re graduating soon, recently graduated or a parent of one of the [...]
Archive for August, 2009
August 27th, 2009
Thursday's Thought
“I realized the power writing has, and it has also helped me deal with my rage … It gave me a lifelong commitment not to be afraid to speak out about injustice.” — Dominick Dunne
August 26th, 2009
4 Ingredients
The only thing that Julie from the movie Julie and Julia and I share is a name. I have never lived in New York City (although I certainly would if opportunity afforded it), I am not a newly wed (we’re clocking 13 years over in this corner), and perhaps most critically, I do not enjoy cooking. I just don’t understand how [...]
August 26th, 2009
This Audition may be a flop
I can’t say I would have normally picked this off the shelf, but a friend offered me a nice fresh hardcopy version of Barbara Walters’ memoir. Surely, I thought, it would have some tasty bits. How could it not, with such a career? Walters initially thought of titling her book Sister, since her only sister Jacqueline “was unwittingly the strongest influence in [...]
August 23rd, 2009
Character flaws
I’m a sucker for anything with “character.” You know, one of those people that real estate agents market “charming” properties too. Also, the type that buys a new lipstick simply because its packaging is just so darn beautiful. And last but not least, the buyer of highly impractical, but terribly cute shoes. I can see how this could be considered superficial. It’s that [...]
August 22nd, 2009
I blame Dora
Although I like to blame Dora the Explorer for my daughter’s pinata fascination, the truth is that it’s become a bit of a cherished tradition around here. It all started on her fourth birthday (yes, that time when all children exposed to a shouting girl in a jungle become madly infatuated and start learning Spanish at amazing speed). We were [...]
August 20th, 2009
Travel with Baby
There is many a parent I know who choses not to travel when their child is a baby. I completely respect this decision. But this post is for those who would like to continue travelling, even after baby, and might be looking for some tips. The tips here are a combo of practicality and inspiration … 5 Tips for Travel with Baby [...]
August 20th, 2009
Thursday's Thought
It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by. How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly of the moment? ~Vita Sackville-West
August 19th, 2009
Thank-you
Just after 5 am this morning, I flipped my eyelids open and standing before me was my daughter. “Hi Mom! Is it time for me to open my birthday presents?” she whispered. “No hon, it’s a bit too early still. Lay in bed for a bit,” I mumbled. She dutifully returned around 6 am and we all hung out on our bed together [...]
August 16th, 2009
Sunday morning in my house
Daughter: Mom, will you play with me? Mother: What do you want to play? Daughter: Pokemon. Mother: Um, okay. But first you have to brush your teeth. Daughter: Okay, great!! Thanks for bribing me, Mom!!!
August 14th, 2009
Santa better start saving now!
Daughter: Have you noticed I haven’t asked for very much for my birthday? Mother: Yes, I did wonder a little about that. Daughter: Well, I’ve been keeping a few things from you. Mother: Oh. Daughter: See, I didn’t want you and Dad to have to spend all your money on my birthday presents. So I’m going to save up all [...]
August 14th, 2009
A movie about blogging
I’ll be the first to admit, I haven’t been out to the movies much in, say, oh … the last seven years. Yes, coincidentally, since I’ve become a parent. So, I might be wrong here, but the movie Julie & Julia was the first movie that I know of with blogging as a central focus. Even though I couldn’t care [...]
August 13th, 2009
Thursday's Thought
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. ~Dr. Seuss
August 11th, 2009
Wasted Beauty
Like a dog with a bone, I’ve been racing through Eric Bogosian’s three novels and raving about them on this blog. The first one I came across was his most recent, Perforated Heart, while the second one I read was Mall. Sandwiched in between these two, he wrote Wasted Beauty (2005). All three novels focus on American culture, and I think [...]
August 10th, 2009
On (not) educating other people's children
I’m at Jiu Jitsu with my one-year-old and we’re watching and waiting for my 6-year-old to finish her class when bounding-in for the next class come a sibling pair aged 5 and 7. They immediately approach me (as us Moms know, babies attract the hoards!) and start ogling and asking questions: “What’s he doing?” and ”Can he walk?” and ”Does he have [...]
