You look familiar..Oh that’s right, you’re me only younger, taller and stronger!

Oh no, Mozart can make you fat!

I swear I had altitude sickness yesterday in Toronto. The room was spinning and I was gently swaying from side to side even though I was only on the second floor of a Bloor Street store (which shall remain nameless). The occasion was my Birthday and to celebrate or distract depending on what you want to hear, I decided I was tired of being the ‘incredibly shrinking woman’ and set off on a mission ‘to raise me up’-you know, buy heels!

Life is like a no-see-um. This occurred to me as I sat in Toronto and watched the little red bites appear a few days after a New Year’s party in Florida. As the kids would say, “What’s with that?” After some cooler days December 31st proved to be a beautiful night and perfect for the midnight celebratory firework display. Sure the little bugs were out but I had no idea that the fruits of their labour would follow me home and be that gift that keeps on giving and not in a good way.

“Can I offer you a drink?” That was my line to the tall, good looking stranger standing in the doorway. On the weekend we officially moved our mother’s furniture and paintings etc. from her two bedroom apartment in a Seniors Residence to a much smaller room on the assisted living floor. It was a difficult transition and a blow to her independence but a fall and resultant ‘stupid’ full time walker (as she calls it) necessitated the move. The coffee maker made the trip and a small toaster – courtesy of an amazing sale at Canadian Tire – completed her new abode.

I am a 37 year old bride or so my husband says. Maybe it makes him feel younger and mysterious to say that but if it were true, it would mean our marriage was arranged and our children were born fully grown. You see, today is our 37th wedding anniversary and I am in Toronto and he is in Africa-bad timing. A wedding anniversary may be the only celebration that can only be shared with the two original participants. Your wedding happens on a certain day at a certain time and that’s it.

To quote Toby Keith a country music star, “I may not be as good as I once was but I’m as good as I ever was.” This is the shopping season and I can hold my own; or so I thought. It is the season to be jolly and boost the local economy as we show our love for family and friends by buying gifts for them. With that in mind I headed for Bloor Street – a Mecca for retail. Over the years, like most other people, I have succumbed to the ‘impulse’ buy and suffered the occasional bout of ‘buyer’s remorse’.

My stove died and it’s my fault. This week for the first time in years, I decided to bake as a treat for my husband. Yes, I did say “years”. I am not sure if I mentioned in one of my prior blogs that I don’t have a love or even a like for cooking. For me a kitchen is a great place to read. Sadly, the shock of the whole experience was too much for my stove and it quit immediately after the last muffin was removed from the oven. Naturally, I take that as a sign that I was right all along not to be enamored with the whole Julia Child, Martha Stewart thing.

I am so out of the loop that I am tripping on the rope!

I am so out of the loop that I am tripping on the rope!