In Ontario, I think we’re always aware of the French language. We’re located right next to Quebec and there are pockets of Franco-Ontarian populations sprinkled throughout the province. And French is on most of our products, labels, printed materials and more.

To see this in the United States is a little out of the ordinary – but it’s what we experienced today in Lafayette, Louisiana.

We found ourselves in the heart of Acadiana. That’s a region of 22 parishes (what we would call counties) in southern Louisiana that is home to the Cajuns – descendants of French-speaking inhabitants of Acadia (now Nova Scotia) who were cruelly expelled and forcefully deported from their homeland by a vengeful British governor in 1755. more…

I had great visions for yesterday – visions of lovely Natchez, of stately Civil War-era homes and of cotton-growing. But they weren’t to be, thanks to what I later discovered to be TD5.

It rained heavily pretty much from the moment we set out from Vicksburg on Route 61 on our way to Natchez. And that rain, as I learned on the local Louisiana news that night, was courtesy of Tropical Depression 5 – or TD5 for short – a weather system that luckily didn’t grow into a hurricane. Now that would’ve been a travel adventure (and a few blog posts) to remember! more…

I’m starting to wonder if I’m becoming high maintenance. Have I gradually turned into a diva over the last number of years without knowing it?

It used to be pretty easy for me to keep on top of myself and my life. But as I was entering appointments into my new online calendar, I noticed there are a whole lot of people I depend upon to keep my life together – people that never used to be on my radar. Just a note here: this does not include friends and family. They help me keep my life on track in many other ways not related to this blog post. more…

I’ve been driving for almost 20 years. Wow, I feel old just writing that, but shockingly, it’s true.

Anyway, when I was growing up, my parents always owned standard transmission vehicles, so when it came time for me to learn how to drive, that’s what I learned on.

At the time, I was pretty annoyed about that, as it was much harder for me learn driving than for any of my friends and their “normal”, automatic-transmission vehicle families. more…

It’s the very last thing I expected when I stepped off the Eurostar at St. Pancras station yesterday. The UK has a certain reputation where the weather is concerned, so imagine my surprise when I found out that I’ve unknowingly walked into Britain’s first heat wave in three years.

Now granted, after just spending the better part of a week freezing my bits off in Switzerland amidst endless fog and rain, I was quite pleased to see the sun shining and feel the warmth of its rays on my face.
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As long as I can remember, I’ve gotten stressed in the winter. Could it be the heavier workload, the lack of sunlight or the crappy weather? Likely all of the above!

And when I get winter-stressed, I start my annual quest for the perfect comfort snack that will take the troubles away and make life good again. more…

I knew it was coming. It happens twice every year – January and September – and yet I still wasn’t totally prepared for the madness that greeted me yesterday.

What I’m talking about is the Happy New Year-induced chaos and craziness at the gym. more…

As someone who is terrified of heights, this story spoke to me more than most in today’s Toronto Star.

Seems an elevator in the CN Tower stalled during the windstorm that swept through Ontario last Sunday – trapping the unfortunate people inside for several hours just meters from the top.

Yipe, yipe, yipe!!!

Check out the article here:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/559990

Our whole day got turned upside down yesterday. It eventually righted itself but not until we’d come to a few realizations.
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Last night, while shopping at the Cambridge mall, I heard dogs barking.

At first I thought I was imagining things, but because I had time to kill before my hair appointment, I decided to investigate. As I rounded the corner and came to the “get your picture taken with Santa” booth, I couldn’t believe my eyes. more…