Monday, July 6th Dear Sebastian, It’s that time of year, when you are up at the surface of my heart. A week ago, at book club, someone asked about you. We were discussing Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver (my pick, because I love her), a story in which the main character experienced baby loss as…
13 Reasons Why I’m Still Resisting AI
Is anyone else feeling a bit whiplash-y about AI? At the risk of sounding like an oldie-timey bumpkin, this newfangled AI business seems a mite bit fishy. Mayhap downright unsavoury. Folks, could be we’re all being bamboozled. People in all parts of my life are using AI, many on a daily basis. Some are using…
Late New Year’s Post – Highlights of 2025
As always, my New Year’s post is… not punctual. I got a bit stuck this February, having way too much packed awkwardly into my mind to pry any of it out. Also, between the now-usual heartbreaking state of the world, reminders of how broken and broke the education system I work in is, some extra…
Grateful for a bunch of little things
Happy new year, lovelies! Normally (as many of you know), my first post of a new year is a questionnaire-style review of the previous year. That post takes a long time to get to, though, because it involves soliciting feedback from my family, who are a bunch of procrastinators (who nevertheless insist that they want…
Equating Honour with War does not get us closer to Peace
Earlier this month, as in most of the twenty-one Novembers I’ve been working in public schools, I was one of the teachers organizing the Remembrance Day assembly. Naturally, our grade-school MCs spoke of honour – honouring veterans and the sacrifices that so many people make in times of war. I worked with my Grade 6…
Inflation, Fascism, Gratitude, Underfunding, and Lots of Feelings… maybe it’s all actually perimenopause
Here I am, coming back after the umpteenth hiatus to say hi, Lovelies, once again… and to discuss a couple of light topics. I will not make excuses for my absence – you’ve heard them all before. Ahem. How do I do this blog thing again? Let’s be orderly, shall we? Headings are orderly. I…
#ElbowsUp, humans – in more ways than one
What an era to be living in. It’s the second time in a decade that we’re thinking, “Well, this is a moment for the history books.” (Or the Wikipedia pages.) Are there any existential threats that AREN’T buzzwords right now? It feels like all the things are on the line. No wonder #elbowsup was a…
Doug Ford is not standing up for Canada – or even Ontario
What has Doug Ford done for you lately? Polls predict that Ford and his Progressive Conservatives will win – again – on Thursday. Personally, I don’t know what makes Ontarians feel that he’s a good leader, because I haven’t seen evidence of any good works… but there must be many who have. I sometimes try…
New Year Questionnaire – Looking back at 2024
It’s a new year! Actually not that new. Mid-to-late February, for Pete’s sake. This post takes forever, especially now that I consult my family for authenticity. But linear time be damned! (It’s all a construct anyway.) I wonder if there’s a formula for calculating how fast time flies for a person in any given year….
Hate shall not win; Love is our best thing.
I love you, lovelies. Today feels like a really dark day. Like many of you, I didn’t sleep well last night. Waking up to this awful reality, the far-reaching possible consequences churning in my gut… It’s heavy. You all know – we’re not fine. I guess my shock and disbelief are products of trying not…