My Own Mask Mandate; Sixty-Nine Weeks In

The mask mandate in our city was officially dropped this week; when I went to the grocery store on Wednesday I counted six maskless faces. I will say I find it strange and startling to see actual faces indoors, which goes to show how quickly people adapt to their circumstances. After all, a year ago […]

Refreshed and Rejuvenated; Sixty-Eight Weeks In

Thank you all so much for weighing in on last week’s question! I am cautiously optimistic and hopeful, and also clinging to my mask collection. I did take advantage of the Big Reopening in one way, and that was to visit my parents for four nights. It’s interesting; I am a person who thrives on […]

Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Summer Solstice Edition

Something that I genuinely enjoy even though it’s universally considered to be a terrible invasion of privacy is targeted advertising on social media. I find it absolutely fascinating, what social media thinks that I am interested in. I mean, usually they are correct; my advertising tends towards yoga gear and Peloton and plant-based foods, and […]

Embrace The Season; Sixty-Four Weeks In

You won’t believe it, but last week we had a heat wave! The term Heat Wave, by the way, is relative to Calgary – I’m sure my friends in the South would just call it a stretch of pleasant summer days – but it has made me so happy. I’m spending every available minute outside; […]

Three Teens In The House; Sixty-Three Weeks In

As of yesterday, I now have three teenagers in the house! Sorry, the photo is a little fuzzy. Every week that Barkley is still wagging and sitting at my feet as I make dinner is a good week. He’s pretty slow these days – his big lump trips him up quite a bit – and […]

Do You Want To Build A Snowman; Sixty-Two Weeks In

Today is the Monday of the Victoria Day long weekend, which is essentially meaningless to me. But not for long! Tomorrow the boys go back to school, and I am so happy about it. They’ve been coping just fine over the past five weeks, but it just feels so unhealthy to have them sitting in […]

Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Mayday, M’aidez Edition

If you have ever read The Handmaid’s Tale, you will remember that the code word for the underground movement was Mayday; Mayday originating from the French m’aidez, meaning “help me.” I, along with everyone else in the world, have Massive Pandemic Fatigue. My husband is at the apex of his very important work project that […]