Quelle surprise!

The time I spent recently in Montreal was fundamentally sans agenda. Yes, there were a couple of jazz shows for which I had tickets, but we didn’t have as much as a single reservation for dining or specific plans for the majority of the roughly 72 hours we were in Canada. Being wide open leaves … Continue reading Quelle surprise!

Thankful for…

Yoga classes in dim light that leave me feeling peacefully strong. An Asian riffed soup with baby bok choy, mushrooms, scallions and chicken meatballs. A few nights ahead in Montreal. Two planned evenings of live jazz, a yoga studio, two bakeries, and a bagel place, all marked on my Google map of Montreal. Freshly baked … Continue reading Thankful for…

Thanksgiving, eh?

When one of my sons, a few months ago, suggested that we spend Thanksgiving in Montreal, I immediately ran with the idea. This holiday, which had been my favorite for many years, just doesn’t feel like a celebratory occasion when one learns about the atrocities (far beyond the singular Trail of Tears lesson taught in … Continue reading Thanksgiving, eh?

Holiday shopping…

…is problematic. It’s the time of the year when many cultures traditionally exchange gifts. There’s a conditioned seasonal impulse to shop with a vengeance joy, often spending beyond our means in an effort to impress others with the amount we care for them. Wait! Am I projecting like the Republicans accusing the Democrats of sexual … Continue reading Holiday shopping…

Whatever gets you through the night (and day)

I think it’s pretty clear that my moods (and mental health) are being determined to a great extent by the current situation in the States. Guess we should all get accustomed to being dictated to, right? I can’t understand why the population of what was once a rebellious, independent country, is allowing this travesty of … Continue reading Whatever gets you through the night (and day)

Summer sweetness

Can we all agree that we’re having a real summer? It has been hot to an extreme that keeps my oven off and my desire to spend time in the kitchen low. When it’s 95° and humid, I’m simply not cooking. Salads, fruit and yogurt do the trick for me without my breaking a sweat. … Continue reading Summer sweetness