Met-zmerized
I know what you’re thinking. “She’s going to say something about it being November already.” But of course I will. Welcome to November. November the month of the Movember, Remembrance Day, Christmas parades, the hunt for warm mittens and days of overcast skies. And next you’re going to ask, “What have you been doing?” Glad […]
Remembering
It’s early evening, and around here most folks hit the pillow early. The dark November sky and cold rain hitting beyond the window next to me adds weight to the poignancy of the art that lines the walls of this place. There are paintings of warships, of air bombers, of troops. The quiet culture of […]
Experience
I do not think I am exaggerating when I write that an entire nation was in pain after Friday night’s Blue Jays game. It ended so suddenly, and it really hurt. Bautista’s two home runs provided hope when it was required. But then the ninth inning began with the Jays trailing by one run. The […]
Nouveau in the County
Little nudges in the history of marriage, trade and marketing go a long way in explaining the whys and wherefores of the wine industry. Bordeaux is a case in point. The region celebrates oenological ties with England, thanks to the marriage between Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England. Not only did Henry gain […]
Affinity living
It’s becoming all the rage. Affinity living, that is. The place you choose to live allows you to affiliate with a team, or sport, or way of life. Of course, the world is already awash in golf-course style developments, or developments situated around marinas, but this trend entails thinking a little deeper inside the box. […]
Procrastination
Ah the last week of October. What the heck? The big chill will descend upon us, soon enough. After the Hallowe’en treats have disappeared from the big bowl in the front hall, we’ll be digging out our Christmas decorations. And what the H E double KitKat bars am I up to these days? Glad you […]
Identity crisis
I am a member of an invisible minority. That is, I’m not part of an identifiable group. When I look through the census documents that identify visible minorities, I don’t see myself. This may seem like a non-issue, but to me, it’s an ongoing identity crisis. I come from parents with very different backgrounds. They’re […]
Baseball in Fort Myers
Thomas Alva Edison always said that he came to Fort Myers, Florida, because of the weather. When scouting for an appropriate place to set down roots, he spotted land on the Caloosahatchee River. It suited him perfectly, particularly because of the bamboo plants on the site. He was in the process of trying to find […]
We care
The election is over, but before moving on, a word of congratulation. The exact numbers won’t be in for a while yet, but eligible voter turnout in this week’s federal election jumped significantly. Although new registrants have not yet been counted, about 68 per cent of registered voters arrived to mark a ballot. Regardless of […]
Colossal cellar
Various wine societies will routinely plan their great evenings around the tasting of a significant vintage wine, although it means they must draw down their own cellars in order to share the contents among many. While visiting a winery in Crimea at the beginning of this month, Russian President Putin and former Italian Prime Minister […]