06/8/15

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday!

And what a glorious day it is.  I love birthdays and I love celebrating them.  I just don’t understand people who don’t.

The weather on the damp coast is uncharacteristically sunny and warm.  The birds are singing, the neighbours chickens are clucking.

The beautiful weather means that the strawberries, my favourite, are ready 2 weeks early and are beautifully red and sweet.  And I can walk to a new boulangerie in my neighbourhood for a fresh croissant.

Does it get better than this?!?!?  (Cue the happy dance!)

Continue reading

03/24/15
Lego Superman

When Superman Needs Help

He did things that only Superman could do
Things that sis and I could not believe were true.

Harry Connick Jr., He is They Are

My Superman  

My dad has always been my superman.  There wasn’t anything that he couldn’t do.  He could fix anything and build something out of any kinda material.  He rebuilt our entire house!

He could climb mountains and swim oceans.  He was the coolest dad on the block because he raced motorcycles.

So cool, in fact, it saved me from being stuffed into a locker in grade 8.  Turns out the grade 12s had heard of my dad and thought I was cool because of it.  Whew! Continue reading

01/20/15
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

The End of a Marriage

This is the end, beautiful friend, the end.

The Doors

The End

So for my 23rd wedding anniversary, my husband gave me the gift of requesting a divorce.  He actually said, “separation”, but the outcome is the same. This was the end of my marriage.

This old grey mare will be not be going into my golden years, arm in arm with a husband, sharing all the joys and sorrows of the golden years.  Nope, I’ll be making the journey solo.

“I just don’t respect you”

Husband stated he no longer respected me, nor felt that our marriage was worth the effort of saving.  He was unhappy and the only thing he could think of doing to make himself happy was leaving me. Continue reading

10/21/14
I don't iron. If I'm not wrinkle-free, why should my clothes be?

The Skin Deep Project

Better watch out for the skin deeps
The Stranglers

The Skin Deep Project

I was reading a book Beautiful Skin Begins Within by Dr. Martin Braun about how to keep skin beautiful and elastic before, during and after menopause.

While Dr. Martin Braun wrote the book, it is sponsored by Lorna Vanderhaeghe, who just happens to have a full line of vitamin supplements that will help with what the doctor suggests.

According to the plan, there are a number of things you need to do, besides adjusting your diet and exercise levels.  One is adding a number of supplements to your diet which are supposed to help your skin turn back time and appear dewy fresh and plump. Continue reading

09/23/14
Photo by Tara Hardy

50 Lessons – #36 Growing Old

Growing Old – Gratefully

Growing Old Ain’t for Sissies
Bette Davis

After I posted Regina Brett’s 50 list, I saw an opinion piece in the Globe and Mail that related to #36.

Heather Sanders published a piece in August 2014 about women and our penchant for denigrating ourselves, no matter what stage of life we’re in.  Her hypothesis is that we should age gratefully, and stop being so hard on ourselves.  As Regina puts it:  Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.

Here’s the link to the Globe and Mail website, Ladies, it’s time to age gratefully.  I’ve also included it below in case the link doesn’t work one day.  PS Thank you, Heather. Continue reading

09/12/14
Regina Brett

50 Lessons Life Taught Me

Regina’s 50 List

Regina Brett of Cleveland, Ohio, once wrote a column for The Plain Dealer called “The 45 Lessons Life Taught me”.

It’s pretty insightful and certainly has helped me put a few things in perspective.  It’s not a 50 – 50 list.  It’s a list of observations that can help make life a little easier to enjoy.

The original list was 45 lessons, but she’s added 5 more for good measure.   Continue reading

07/28/14
Cool Cat

Feeling Special

I’ve lost that Special Feeling

I’m special (special)
So special (special)
Gotta have some of your attention
Give it to me.
The Pretenders

Special to No one?

It occurred to me the other day that right now, in my life, I have no one who makes me feel special.

Family, husband, junior, friends – no one says to me, “Sharole, you are special.  You have unique talents and gifts and what you do with them is very special.  You should go forth and use them more often.” Continue reading

07/2/14
Hands saying Hello

A Call from a Long Lost Friend

A Call from a Friend

I got a call from a long lost friend.   It was perfect timing, I had just come in the door.

As soon as I heard his voice, I knew who it was. Agent J. I hadn’t heard from him in over 5 years, maybe more. And there he was on the other end of the line calling from the other side of the world.

He and I have been friends for decades. Not bosom buddy types but the kind that when we get together it’s like we just saw each other last week. His dad and my dad were buddies which is how we became friends. Continue reading