One Part Inspiration...

Don`t get me wrong.  I am captivated by short videos demonstrating easy ways to prepare delicious looking food.  I find myself clicking onto websites that promise that I will become a candidate on "BEST CHEF E.V.E.R."  But when it comes right down to it, I don't have the attention span to produce the same end result. "Their" kitchens never look messy while they prepare the food.   Mine, looks like a tornado tore through the back door, and didn't stop until it it took the whole neighbourhood with it.   "Their" ingredients always look fresh.   Mine have to be stacked "just so" because otherwise, the product, which otherwise would be its way to product heaven, might be too distracting in the ingredients photo. Case in point: Manuela`s blogpost looked like this: and I was INSPIRED BY WHAT I SAW I thought.  "Hey, the girls and I are getting together for dinner this week, and I said I'd bring desser...

Today I decided to write a post and went to my 'Drafts folder'.  I perused the various options for topics which I started and never finished.  Of all the choices, "Fitness" caught my eye.   I decided I would edit and then post all my wise thoughts on Fitness.  [It might be worth mentioning that I  started this post over a year ago]  I pressed "EDIT" and found the body of the post was empty. Maybe it's just my cracked sense of humour but I found it quite amusing that I had written N.O.T.H.I.N.G. on Fitness. What doesthatsayaboutmythoughtson fitness? That I have none?  That I am so motivated to become fit, I simply cannot find the time to blog about it? I tend to find more enjoyment in talking about other things? That I can no longer remember what I was going to say about fitness?  (Probably closest) So I start again. When I was in high school, I obsessed over my diet.  My diary was filled with a list of food I ...

I am a New Year's Resolution junkie. Every year, without fail, I bow to the pressure and make my list. In recent years, I have cut back to one main resolution. This is to try and circumvent the biggest problem I have with resolutions: Saying " I resolve to... " makes me feel instantly defeated. Somehow, those words carry a burden. As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I am certain I won't be able to carry out my intention. It is altogether too easy to spiral down into the abyss of " What did I tell you? I'm a failure ." So then, what's the use of trying? I know that I am not alone in this. Many people give a blank stare when you ask them if they've made a resolution. It's as if they think that ignoring the question will make it (and you) go away. Making a resolution is all about intentional living. Saying it out loud to someone else, or putting it out there in cyber-space can be daunting. Suddenly, the word "accoun...

Some things I say make no sense to my husband. This is a complete mystery to me. I can use the same words with my girlfriends and they won't even bat an eye. They just get it. But when I say it to him, he just looks at me as if I "no speakah da Eengleesh". For an example of this, I give you exhibit "A". It happened last night.... We have a family event this afternoon. I should further explain, it is extended family event. This part of the extended family doesn't get together very often. So it is difficult to remember protocols for things like: " Should I bring a dessert? or an appetizer...even though I've been told not to worry about bringing either. . " or "S hould I bring a card for the host? ...or one for each of the aunts? " .... or even more important " What's everyone wearing? I certainly don't want to be the only one in casual dress if everyone else is dressed to the nines. " There are no s...

At first glance, it seems very easy. I have a techno-problem. I will contact customer service. They will solve the problem. Onto the next crisis. Unfortunately, this is assuming too much. Apparently, there no such thing as customer service. Not any more. I will bet you ten-to-one , that when a call is made about the telephone, hydro, credit card bill, and I actually talk to a person, not a machine, they are on the beach in Puerto Vallarta , waiting for their para sailing turn. If I send an email about a problem with techno-gadgets, I get a friendly message with an answer, which isn't an answer at all. Real Customer Service Representatives (C.S.R's) no longer exist. I can no longer expect my problems to be solved. I have become fodder for jokes around the water cooler. Let's just take the telephone as an example. All I wanted to know, was the possibility of getting a new phone number and keeping it over the next few months while we move around the city. Or, in other words ( ...

Recently I visited the church in which I grew up. Surprisingly, people still remembered me and greeted me by name. I cannot tell you how silly I felt that I couldn't remember their names. I was smiling and talking to them, and all the while, I was rapidly fast-forwarding and rewinding all the tapes in my head to try and remember who they were. To them: "How lovely to see you too!" To myself: " Can't really ask about their children because I don't even know if they have children." To them: "Yes, just here for a few days." To myself: " Think, think think, Marni....you recognize them...now who are they?? Anything????? "Nope, nothing." To them: "Yes, you too! Take care!" It is hard to admit that I've hit this wall of selective memory. Some days, I do well to remember my own family. What is strange, is that in the middle of the night sometimes, random names will pop into my head. " Ah, yes, it was Betty. She was the...