What I learned from Life this week: If you don’t use it, you lose it. Perhaps not earth-shattering news, but a truism that took me to an uncomfortable realization. In my youth I was a fashion model. Most of the time I was conflicted about it. I loved the travel opportunities (I lived in Paris) but I hated the assumptions about my intelligence (lacking). I spent a lot of energy finding ways to casually reference Read more
inspired by the smiling woman at the TDcanadatrust bank at CAMH 8 min, 2.12.13 @ Starbucks, Queen + Ossington, TO She always smiles and says hello to the Security Guard when she goes in to use the ATM. She tries to remember to look him in the eye and acknowledge his humanity. She does it more for herself. She read it’s empowering to look people dead in the eye and she’s started by experimenting with Read more
Yessssssssssss. The Year of the Snake has arrived and I’m over the (new) moon about it. I love the promise of new possibilities that come with new energies. The snake, although much maligned in Western culture symbolizes many great things beyond temptation and evil. It is a perfect symbol of newness as it refreshes itself shedding old tired skin. I’m hitting the refresh button on The Middle Notes. Random acts of kindness are awesome but Read more
In many yogic traditions the Guru gives the disciple a mantra. They are ostensibly tailor-made. I don’t know, I don’t have a Guru. But I have had many great teachers and I’ve tried several mantras over the years. I’ve tried the Ganesha mantra for forty days at a time. Ganesha is the Hindu God who helps to remove obstacles. He is also the patron protector of Medical Marijuana dispensers. I don’t think they’re as unrelated Read more
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 8 min @ the kitchen table, TO ‘Your problem Rian is that you think the world owes you.” “Is that the best you can come up with? That is not even Psych 101, that’s like Psych for Dummies. Barely.” Rian’s ‘Damian’ blue eyes glare through her over-long bangs. “I’ll tell you what I think, Pamela Sue. I think you gave up on your Mary Tyler Moore dream and cashed Read more
Killing Floor by Lee Child 8 min @ my desk, TO, 2.4.13 The awkward moment came just as I knew it would, but I still wasn’t prepared. I’d been waiting a week for Monday to come. Clean slate, fresh start Monday. But this is not going according to the plan. Frack! It was a very simple plan, intercept Mr. Gun in the executive staff kitchen with my dazzling pitch. Being Mr. Ellry’s assistant, I had access. Read more
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K.Rowling 8 min @ R2, 668 Queen St. W, TO 2.1.13 No one seemed to study with the same fervor as Amy . She thought it would have gotten better her sophomore year but it was worst. So much worse. The library was the worst place to study because all anyone did was chat nonsense… and in really loud outside voices. Of course cutbacks meant there was no Read more
“Kinda,” I said. The Fault Was In Our Stars by John Green 8 min @ Sublime Espresso Bar, Kensington Market, TO I knew I used the wrong word from the sour look on Aunty’s face. I have, not I got. Since the day I reached Aunt Clarice’s house she’d been teaching me to talk right. Aunty said I had a ‘stick mat’ when I talk. People would know I come from foreign. Which was funny Read more