A perfect way to wrap YEAR TEN. ...With a tribute to how I live my life! Image (c) REDBUBBLE |
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Thursday, April 27, 2023
W IS FOR WOMEN
March 8th was when we celebrated this year! Cartoon (c) maxine.com |
In recognition of International Women's Day, I posted this to my personal Facebook page this year with a song link (which I have added to my post at the bottom):
In celebration of International Woman's Day I am sharing a song that has carried me though a male dominated sector, to which I believe I belong. Truthfully, I've seen it all as a mature woman in Muskoka construction.
I've been told what to wear, coached on how to manage men that should have been let go, and had my intelligence diminished by bullies that hated the outgoing personality of an well versed woman.
Most importantly, for being unconditionally loyal, I was totally gaslighted as the internal political climate changed.
The point of my story is I have never given up - and I am really very proud of that.
PS: If you truly know me and you've read this far.... AND you've listened to the tune I am sharing; you know who was on the other side of this exit interview!
Sara Bareilles - King of Anything (Official Video)
Sunday, February 28, 2021
POLITICAL HAIR DAZE
In this electronic offering, I would like to discuss something as simple as the fact that I was privileged enough to get my hair cut and coloured in Simcoe-Muskoka last week.
As proof of how truly grateful I am, I have attached before and after selfies illustrating my being provided a much needed personal service that I took completely for granted.
Before and After: With selfie photoshoots happening less than a month apart. TAKEN: FEBRUARY 2021 |
Before I begin my rant, I would like to insert a caveat. With all we have happening in the world right now, I wake up every morning making an honest effort to be politically diplomatic. Meaning... 'to say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy.’
I will acknowledge the fact that I’m sure you're perplexed out of the gate with the concept of my saying ‘nothing.’ My choice isn't because I have decided to shy away from the comfort of confrontation, more because in the last year I tend to gut check before I engage online with a person that is being irrational; to ensure that they are NOT going to be doing the same thing.
That said, though I have my own ideas on how we got to today, I was wondering if anyone else (specifically in Ontario) feel like the tail is now officially wagging the dog?
Why has cart sanitation and hazard pay at the local box stores disappeared, yet my amazing hairdresser with only one chair, obsessed to comply with every safety aspect thrown at her, expected struggle to generate honest revenue and pay bills?
It makes no sense.
The fact that the 'essential' weed shop in the sleepy little town where I live is an uber small business with a line up around the corner and down the lane, yet for months I couldn't get a haircut in a shop with a single chair. Even more baffling's that the elementary schools remain open here after cases are confirmed in students, and people still can't get a f*ucking haircut!
Look, I know I am scratching a scab that has been puss filled for a year. But we are locked down in Muskoka again thanks to a supposed 'UK variant' that has landed from Ireland. How did it get here?
At this point, because we aren't allowed to travel, my best guess makes me wonder if it landed on the lid of a can of Guinness sold at the local LCBO, that slipped into the store cooler after refusing to wear mask.
That said, did you hear? I got my hair done. We wore masks and everything!
Had it been 72 hours later? My gal would have lost her license!!
#rantcomplete #yagottalaughaboutit #totalbullshit #limitededition
Sunday, December 27, 2020
TINY BUBBLES
My electronic journal found some bizarre inspiration this morning.
It was when the vinyl record player that is my mind kept hearing the classic 1966 Don Ho lounge lizard tune: Tiny Bubbles . (The song title is a link for those that have yet to have the pleasure.)
Now I'm sure we can all agree my chosen isn't a festive holiday tune, nor a track that plays into the whole 'reason for the season' vibe. Let's face it, as we crawl toward the end of a year so annoying it continually tripped over itself (twenty-twenty), a song about tiny bubbles within a lockdown mandate shouldn't be considered unfathomable.
My tiny bubble. Featuring my amazing Fab Five! TAKEN: DECEMBER 25th, 2020 |
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
TRICKY TRAVEL TALK
Last week, after noticing that some of my Canadians snowbird pals were beginning to flock south until next spring, I decided to open up a social media discussion on the possibility of upcoming travel to the Caribbean in the winter of 2021.
I knew I might be encroaching on a tricky topic with some controversial dialogue happening, yet in the wide reaching forum I created, my network answered both respectfully and with personal honestly.
Wind blown, cruising the Mississippi River aboard The Natchez New Orleans TAKEN: MAY 29th, 2019 |
As I sit here and type, I can't help but revisit the very first comment on my thread. A seasoned traveler wrote – “No travel until I’m vaccinated!”
On the day of the election of the 46th President of the United States, I can’t help but wonder what’s next in both the virus protection and travel departments.
Right or wrong, a vaccine produced without proof of proper exploratory stages, pre-clinical development and regulatory review for approval, is not something I am rushing to put into my body.
The shoe on the other foot reminds me that my thread wasn't intended to be a vaccination debate, more about travel input and opinions as I am hoping to hatch a plan and ultimately travel while respecting imposed limitations.
With my sunny wings potentially grounded indefinitely, I know I could always travel and remain in Canada, which is probably my best option at this point. I have family and friends out it BC, so that may be my overall 2021 birthday trip goal.
That said, vaccine or not, if the mandatory 14-day quarantine upon return to Canada is lifted, I will be sitting on a beach in the Caribbean quicker a snowsquall can move into Muskoka knocking out a neighbourhood of Bell satellite dishes.
Trust me.... Here, with our unpredictable winter storm crap?
That's 5G, Flash Gordon, blink and pack because you're leaving on a plane, fast!
#nufsaid
Sunday, August 30, 2020
MOOSEKOKA MUSING
Just hanging out at the cottage with my big bad bull Moose. TAKEN: SEPTEMBER 2018 |
Monday, August 10, 2020
MY MARRIAGE COIN
I read somewhere that marriage is an institution designed to let you annoy one special person for the rest of your life. Yet, I’m sure when you flip my blog and bitch about marriage coin really high into the air it would read: The perfect marriage is between a blind wife and a deaf husband.
I know you’ll probably find this hard to believe, but since opening my own business in 2004, as an entrepreneur I quickly learned to hone two very specific social skills.
1. ALWAYS take a 24-48 hour cooling down period before speaking to whom you’re truly aggravated with, because words can never be taken back.
2. AND...Smile and be thankful for every piece of shit pie eaten that generated revenue.
As you can see from my last couple of electronic offerings, this Covid crap has me crazy cranky.
The cherry on top of that statement is our first official summer vacation together since 2012 was received worse than Bob Dylan going electric and sadder than Levon Helm leaving The Band because of it.
We may have only been at our cottage, but it rained six out of ten days and by this past Saturday morning (when our water pump failed yet again) we both hit the ‘this fecking sucks’ wall. It was clear in our Sunday morning volume alone, we both really needed to take a break.
I moved home with the dogs. He did not.
Now, I should share, we rarely fight nor even disagree.
The two of us at my company Christmas Party TAKEN: DECEMBER 2000 |
In our many decades together we have learned to skillfully navigate each other for continued success. In this instance, our small cottage space, two wet dogs, and a thrice mis-installed water pump got the best of us.
How bad was it? If a successful marriage requires you to fall in love many times with the same person… I’m thinking by Labour Day weekend we might be ready for a lunch date.
That said, I can assure you that it was so bad, my best girlfriend will be making one of those famous ‘escape a really bad date’ phone calls; fifteen minutes in.
#yagottalaughaboutit
Saturday, August 8, 2020
ONE GIANT STEP
Have you ever had one of those days where no matter what you try and accomplish, you take one step forward and two steps back?
Well, the fat lady is tuning up to start singing to signal the end of my vacation, and gosh darn dammit if the last seven days haven’t played out exactly like that!
Since we connected water in early May, I have loved living in my little Covid Casita. But if I'm being honest here, the five days of rain last week drove me a tad bit stir crazy.
Usually when I am antsy and frustrated, we hop in the car and go vrooom zoom for a change of scenery. Imagine wet dog everything and misplaced car keys.
I know, right? Two. Steps. Back!
Y'all know I love my pups and that they love me. This is proven daily by the fact that they both have to be within two feet of me at any given moment.
So, this past week, to avoid major rainfall/lake water stinkage, I towel dried them as much as possible, leaving me with a clean towel crisis that offered impressive expletives that I usually save for that crazy orange man south of here.
I kid you not, when an electronic friend checked in via text with, “hope your week off is okay and quiet.” I instantly responded with, ‘I did laundry in the rain this morning... Livin’ the dream!”
Truth of the matter is, when I saw the long-range forecast, I wanted to cancel and take a different week. My husband did not. I get it. He has the privilege of a maid and cook; so I can totally empathize with why we wouldn’t entertain a reschedule.
That said, I read an online article this week about the pursuit of personal happiness. It was from a husband’s perspective. It explained how it isn’t his job to make his wife happy. It is her responsibility to ensure she is happy with her choices and herself, which I agree with 100%.
So, when cleaning out the closets this past week, I came across a two-person pup tent I'd purchased for the kids many years ago. I set it up on the lower deck and looked forward to falling asleep over the water and waking up to the morning fog.
I think I could market this space on Air BnB! TAKEN: August 6th, 2020 |
People on my Facebook immediately joked that my husband had finally sent me to the doghouse but the truth of the matter is I hit the jackpot and got the hell out of the extra large doghouse for a good night sleep.
Then, when heading up to make morning coffee, I broke the zipper on the door, took it down and hauled it into the trash.
Killing the tent after one might have been my two steps back. BUT baby, my night outside alone in the fresh air?
One giant step forward!
Sunday, July 19, 2020
SUNDAY STORM DAY
When given lemons? Make a Caesar and listen to Spotify! TAKEN: JULY 19th, 2020 |
Friday, July 10, 2020
HAPPY TO HELP
Thanks Alberta! TAKEN: JULY 7th, 2020 |
Sunday, May 24, 2020
DEAL WITH IT!
When I was a kid, my summer days were spent by the lake and my evenings spent playing cards or board games by propane powered lights with my mom and extended family. All these years later, those memories are still very fond ones.Naturally, when we purchased our own cottage back in 2000, a wooden game box for puzzles and everything else needed to keep preteens busy was one of the first things created. They would swim through the day and if it rained, the game box was immediately cracked open before the television was ever turned on.As I type, I can hear that classic pop-o-matic sound of a game of Trouble clicking away, or squeals of an exciting game of snakes and ladder in need of a referee well underway.
Their favourite card game was crazy 8's and I feel like they played thousands of those with my Dad before he passed in 2005.As I reflect in my 20th summer at our cottage, I can't help but notice how much things have changed.The kids don't come by very often anymore and the majority of my time is spent alone, yet I still love playing cards and board games. The difference is now it's against downloaded robots or an online audience.
Every once and a while I can convince my husband to play but it's not really his thing. In the summers since the kids left home, it has always been a negotiation to gain his interest in participating.For instance, in summers past, though I absolutely hate baseball (which is another post) I would concede that we could listen to the game on the radio if he'd agree to play a board game or a couple of games of cards in return. With this summer season cancelled, I think I am going to have to become super creative.With cottage life officially underway and no sports to use as bait, I'm thinking I may need to bust out a topless option with benefits for Canasta to get him interested in participating.Either way, I'll deal with it.Get it?
Cards?
Deal?That said, feel free to insert eye roll or head shake now.
A solid groan would also be totally appropriate!
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Monday, April 27, 2020
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
F IS FOR FITNESS
Blindfold? Definitely, MAYBE!
Sunday, December 29, 2019
BOOK-A-BOO
Just like my favourite pair of fuzzy socks, I know what I like and I want what I know. Therefore, I and never venture very far away from good non-fiction and a handful of writers of fiction I like.
So you can imagine my shock (when on vaycay in Mexico last month) a passive aggressive electronic friend backhandedly 'book shamed' me via text message.
Check out my sexy bookmark & killer tan in process on the bottom left! TAKEN: NOVEMBER 26th - DECEMBER 3rd 2019 |
Saturday, December 28, 2019
FORTY FOUR
What 44 actually looked like! TAKEN: DECEMBER 2009 |
Thanks again for reading.
Monday, September 2, 2019
MY CANINE SUMMER SHIFT
My Dot never had an issue with the sound of a camera. RIP ole girl. TAKEN: 2007-2019 |
Eight weeks after putting Dot out of her misery, the realization that she suffered far more than she needed to, and her mood swings (due to her cancer) took a serious toll on everyone, including both my other pups.
I have spent the past couple of months focused on reprogramming her, yet she still feels the need to be in a constant state of submission because Dot needed to remain in charge until her death.
Saturday, March 30, 2019
FOR THE RECORD
My motto in life? Kill the assholes with kindness! TAKEN: April 1978 |
Part of me thinks those being aggressively passive and judgmental about my very fashionable rose coloured glasses are that way because they've never met anyone like me; which is someone that would rather instill confidence over conflict.
As a result, I have always worked to give my best. Which may read an an oxymoron seeing as over the years I've written here that the best I could do was barely crawl out of bed...Yet even then, I always did it and smiled.
As I process all of this, my biggest discovery this post is that once you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Which is the realization I had yesterday, and is naturally attached to what feels to be a bit like a broken heart.
Once again, I have my big girl panties pulled up and I am moving onward & upward.
Thanks again for reading.
Sunday, January 13, 2019
RHONDI's RENOVATING!
Wearing my fancy fur-lined CROCS were just one of my many renovation mistakes yesterday! TAKEN: JANUARY 12th, 2019 |
Why? The room, my hair, my clothing, my slippers, my skin were all covered in a paste like substance I magically, albeit, unexpectedly created.
You see, I always sing when I work.