Archive for the ‘Seasonal’ Category

It is difficult these days not to see Elizabeth Edwards when we turn on the television. The interviewer is  reading an excerpt from her book “Resilience” with that tone of voice reserved for the sick person in hospital, asking gently worded questions and providing the viewer with a soapy interview.

I know she is the victim of an extra marital affair and I know that she is ill with breast cancer. I cannot nor do not judge how she handles these things. In these matters my affiliation is firmly with the ‘what goes on behind closed doors’ party.

What is perturbing is why she supported and campaigned for John Edwards to be President of the United States after he told her about the affair. Why, in spite of this knowledge did she sally forth, endorsing her husband as the right man for the job. Why did she cast herself as the loyal wife in the tableau of the wholesome American family?

By making the decision to submit herself and her family to this renewed public scrutiny, she should be accountable for that period in time. As Roger Simons asks in his article “Did Elizabeth Edwards want to get into the White House as badly as John Edwards did?”

I counter that with this question “Is Elizabeth Edwards again using the American public this time to garner book sales?”

Caryl Rivers in her Huffington Post article writes that she should be allowed to tell her story, to “have her say”. Funny that she has so much to say now but the truth was oddly silent during the ’08 Presidential campaign.

When I am remiss in connecting with someone I dash of an email with the subject line -  ‘Catching Up’ so here I go.

In 2008, Nov 4th was noteworthy not only because Barack Obama won the election but also because that was the day when I broke my foot. Sorry, Barack but my tears during your acceptance speech were 44% happiness over your win and 56% PAIN!

This is the first time that I have ever broken anything so I was fascinating by the whole process from my foot becoming a grotesque size and one big multi-colored bruise.  By the way, whoever designed the walking cast should be given some sort of prize. To the shoe area of my bedroom which took on a somewhat macabre look as it became home to one dress shoe, one boot, one sneaker and one slipper. Sadly, even though it was the holiday season my high heel shoes just gathered dust.

When out and about you are more reliant on the kindness of strangers. Those who took the time to hold open the door for a few minutes longer as you hobble over, people who kept up their snow and ice removal and even the cab drivers who yes, open the car door and were extra helpful getting groceries to the door. Speaking of shopping not sure what to say about the grocery staff who were restocking shelves and pretend not to notice me struggling to get an 8KG bag of kitty litter into the shopping cart.

Anyway, foot is basically healed now and it is a brand New Year. I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions but I do have a few things that I would like to work on.

1. Drink less coffee. Drink more green tea.

2. Learn how to make an omelet

3. Find more time to read and write.

4. Be the kind of Life & Business Coach who really helps their clients in these tough economical times.

5. Take Mia to the next level of obedience classes. The time together and the interaction with others will be good for both of us.

6. Stay in touch with friends & family so I don’t have to send those catching up emails.

7. Have massages and manicures on a regular basis.

8. Finish that pile of partially read books besides my bed.

9. Podcast & Twitter

It is really going to bother me that I couldn’t come up with an even ten.

………………….10. Work on an apparent latent tendency towards perfectionism.

What I would buy me for Valentine’s Day?

1. No red roses, I would choose a bouquet of spring flowers with lots of daffodils and colorful tulips . Then buy myself some ripe, juicy strawberries and a really good bottle of Pouilly Fuisse. That should satisfy most of my senses.

2. Books are always a favorite gift for me but for this list, no business, self-help or generally mind expanding books. I would pick five well written, full bodied works of fiction.

3. A rich chocolate brown (not black) leather jacket

4. A new, sexy, sleek laptop

5. First class ticket for a trip home to England. Once there I would slowly travel from Dover to Scotland by train. stopping at historical hotels along the way. Of course I would be traveling with my leather jacket, five must read books and new laptop so that I could record my journey.

NB: No spouses’ feelings were hurt in the making of this post.

1. Outside lights put up on coldest Sunday of the winter. Heaven forbid, that we should have done it when the temperature was above freezing. What is the fun in that?

2. Christmas Baking ordered from two woman who know how to bake. I look on it as supporting fellow female entrepreneurs

3. Fresh Turkey ready to be picked up and yes, I’ll cook that myself.

4. Christmas Tree decorated except for the bottom one third, knowing nods from all cat owners

5. Airline ticket for mother-in-law bought. It’s ok, I love my mother-in-law.

6. Christmas gifts purchased on-line. That was a no-brainer, there were two choices; list in hand, sitting at desk with sippers on sipping coffee vs list in hand, overcrowded mall, winter coat, heat exhaustion.

Realization that the spot on the dining room table where my laptop & paperwork sits will have to be replaced by an actual place setting, well I’m working on that.

Well Valentine’s Day has come and gone and the question is did you get something that you really wanted or does your significant other just not get you? I made a list of the things that I really wanted; none of which I received by the way but I did realize two things, that I have expensive tastes and that I am really two people.

The Romantic Me

• Godiva Chocolates
• Leather bound early editions of two of my favorite books
• A beautiful shawl from some exotic land
• Courvoisier XO Cognac
• First class ticket to Italy

The 21^st Century Me

• Apple iPhone
• Gift Certificate for amazon.com
• Taittinger Champagne
• La Pavoni Espresso Machine (for the record this is the only kitchen appliance that will ever be on my gift list)
• Two days in New York with theatre tickets

I suggest that you make your own list it is very therapeutic, you could even give it to your partner for next year, at best you may give them a good laugh.

We have just celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving & I cooked a turkey dinner that would have made Martha quite proud.
On the Friday before, while picking through the brussel sprouts I overheard one woman ask her friend what she was doing for Thanksgiving. The other one shrugged and answered ‘nothing it was just her and the husband’.

I had enjoyed opening a good bottle of wine and preparing the dinner ‘just for me and Chris’. I didn’t need company to enjoy the smells and flavors of the day.
It is the same at Christmas, whether we include family or not; I still find pleasure in having a tree, decorations, festive foods.
The year can be long and there is something to be said for breaking the routine of life to embrace and celebrate an event; the number of people involved is not the point. I also believe that a relationship needs to be renewed with current memories no matter how small.

Besides all that she missed out on days and days of turkey sandwiches.

If you ask me busy December for all it’s rituals and entertaining is nothing in comparison to Spring. A time when even the cleaning challenged are filled with primeval urges. We want to throw open windows and embark on a frenzy of cleaning. Then move on to release the garden from under it’s mantle of brown. We might also experience a need to paint walls, re-arrange funrniture and stain decks.

Then, there are the new work related projects and goals that need to see the light of an April day, bringing with them new paper work to the office that we are trying to organize.

Did I mention that the dogs need grooming & that my hair and wardrobe could do with some attention?

How many days until Christmas?

It is a good thing that my husband doesn’t read my blog because when I woke up on this Valentine morning my thoughts were not about him.
Now before I hear a collective gasp let’s be honest memories just pop up these days. Triggered by a stray sound, smell, colour or even the taste of a certain food or wine.
An old movie on TV last night sent me back in time, to someone I loved and even though I like to share some things on this blog he will not be one of them.
It is sufficient to say that it has the makings of a chapter in a good memoir; it was a different time, a different country and this is why my mind was wondering, was it a different me?
Does the young woman in love grow up and mature or is she still inside us?
Not sure that I have the answer, I do know that on this Valentine Day I just want to remember her.