A few months ago, I wrote about my idol, Joni Mitchell, and posted a number of links to in-depth, lengthy interviews with her. I wasn’t able to listen to them at the time. Today I am relaxing on the patio, drinking iced coffee, listening to Joni talk about her life,
Continue readingTag: personal
Terahertz: A note on “Skepticism and Gypsy Stereotypes”
Hopefully you took the time to read the article I just posted entitled “Skepticism and Gypsy Stereotypes.” I want to give some backstory to this piece, separate from the article itself. After attending Imagine No Religion 3 this past spring, I had wanted to challenge the trope of Gypsy Fortune-Tellers
Continue readingwmtc: a quieter life, plus photos
Finally, some peace and quiet. This is the first time since the sewage flood on July 8 that our home is quiet. This lovely state of affairs exists because we filed a complaint with the Landlord Tenant Board, requesting our Landlord be ordered to stop renovations on the basement until
Continue readingwmtc: when it rains, it pours, or, welcome to my roller coaster
Tala is not doing well. You may recall, she has a chronic and degenerative spine condition. After a long rest and rehab process, she has been doing wonderfully – truly better than I ever expected. But this week she took a downturn. She was suddenly not able to sit. She
Continue readingwmtc: know your rights, rental edition
After a week of looking at houses for rent, we found something we love and put down a deposit. My dread of moving has been mostly replaced with a mixture of resignation and excitement, as this will be a definite upgrade in our standard of living. Life is full of
Continue readingwmtc: the incredible shrinking life: a flood, a hotel room, a library
I’m always amazed how when personal upheaval strikes, whether tragedy or happy Big Life Change – your world shrinks down to a tiny little circle. We moved to Canada the day Hurricane Katrina struck, and days later, we were struggling to take in all we had missed. Since the flood
Continue readingwmtc: in which a storm reaches our basement. through the toilet.
Our basement. Last night. Looks like some Stephen King floating around. That wood was once a piece of floorboard. Now a raft. Toilet opening and shutting itself. Last night more than a foot of water and sewage came gushing through the basement toilet. The basement is Allan’s office. And I
Continue readingwmtc: wmtc rebooted
I was in the middle of writing a post about my plan to get back into an exercise routine… when I broke my foot. Doing almost nothing. Walking along in the mall, on my way to get my hair cut and then go to work, my ankle turned over sharply.
Continue readingwmtc: my role model, joni mitchell
Next week, Toronto’s Luminato arts festival will present “Joni: a Portrait in Song,” various musicians performing and celebrating the work of Joni Mitchell. For months, speculation flew about whether or not Mitchell herself would attend, and if she did, whether she would perform. Finally, a few weeks ago, it was announced:
Continue readingwmtc: my life at the children’s library so far (plus happy birthday to me)
What a difference it makes when you enjoy going to work. What a difference when you don’t dread your job. Wow! This is what I’ve done in my new position so far. – I participated in the finale of Grade 4 Read To Succeed, in which the winning classes – the classes
Continue readingwmtc: in which i remember what big life change feels like
Even though I’m following several important news stories – from the revelations about the massive NSA domestic spying campaign to the slow-motion implosion of the Conservative Party of Canada to the show-trial of Bradley Manning – I seem unable to blog about anything but my own life. I remember two other times
Continue readingwmtc: in which i officially become a librarian
We interrupt this travelogue to bring you an important announcement. I got my first librarian job!! This is a part-time, temporary position in the children’s department of the Central Library, where I was a page for 14 months. I am thrilled. But wait, there’s more! I also interviewed in a
Continue readingTerahertz: Terahertz Atheist Video Blog
I always have a number of long-term projects in my head. Reaching out via different mediums is one of them, and practice speaking and editing is always important for me. To accomplish this I’ve started an intermittent video blog/podcast supplement to this blog. Only two episodes are up so far
Continue readingwmtc: i am a master of information
The degree will not be official until May, but I’ve just completed my very last school assignment. This means… I. AM. DONE. Done!!!!! My apologies to everyone who already saw this at Facebook, but such momentous news must be posted on wmtc! I am honestly unable to express my joy
Continue readingwmtc: in which my library career moves forward
Page no more! I’m not a librarian yet, but I’ve managed to get out of the page level. I’ve landed a part-time position as a circulation clerk, doing circ and customer service at the front desk in a branch about 20 minutes from home. I’m thrilled. My hourly pay rate
Continue readingwmtc: another frontier: in which my star trek experience enters the 1980s
An historic moment in “what i’m watching” history: I’ve just seen my first-ever episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. I finished watching Star Trek TOS, the whole series, in order. I was sad when it ended! I miss Mr. Spock! I want more! And after Star Trek-less week, it
Continue readingwmtc: beautiful ad-free e-cards at jacquie lawson dot com
This is such a good tip, I am almost reluctant to share it. Then again, most people probably won’t use it. I like to remember people’s birthdays. Long before Facebook kept track of birthdays for us – and I do mean long before, as in, most of my life –
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading (and why): for whom the bell tolls
In anticipation of an upcoming trip to Spain, I’m re-reading For Whom The Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway’s novel based on his experiences in the Spanish Civil War. I haven’t read Hemingway since the 1980s, and I’m enjoying it much more than I expected to. I had mis-remembered Hemingway as a
Continue readingA. Picazo: Yes – Let’s Talk
Though dismissed by some as a cynical marketing ploy, Bell’s Let’s Talk campaign not only succeeded in raising $4.8 million for mental health initiatives, but also provided a forum for canadians to share their stories, reach out for help, and address the stigma associated with mental illness. That conversation, seeing
Continue readingA Novelist's Mind: Lilian Nattel Online: In Memory of Esther Levin
There are words that people use at a time like this: “unexpected passing,” “beloved mother, sister, daughter, friend,” “after a short illness.” These words can be said electronically, but the virtual world must bow here to 3D. The reality of breath halted must be faced, its gravity given due honour.
Continue reading