Lise's Ramblings

Every day we’re bombarded by emails. Very few of those messages, perhaps just the spam and calendar reminders, can simply be deleted in a completely guilt-free way. That is why the occasional email quiet mode is so welcomed. This week, we had the “perfect storm” to cause such a lull. Server and network upgrades one day and many colleagues who had taken off early for Christmas break. All that translated into unusually low numbers of email messages. The emails that did come through still entailed work, but what a treat not to have a constant barrage. Now if Santa could just answer my Christmas letter and deliver copious snow days through January and February, then I’d have a steady winter supply of email lulls. AWESOME! Speaking of lulls, this is my last blog entry of the year, so you’ll experience a lull from my random ramblings right through until January 4th. If you miss my nonsensical scribblings, then visit my blog archives (see right-hand column) where you ca

You haul them out only once a year. They make you smile or evoke fond memories. You’ve had them for as long as you can remember. I’m sure if you think hard enough you will recall at least one decoration you’ve cherished even though it borders on garish. Maybe it is something you take out at Christmas, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year or St. Patrick’s Day. For me, that would my beloved pear. Yes, I said pear. Even the attached photo doesn’t do it justice. My pear is velour coated, except in wear spots around its holly leaves. Frayed, gold trimming surrounds an opening in the front of my pear. Tucked inside is a plastic angel. She sports faded paint, and I’ve had to re-glue her to the pear on a number of occasions. Now I don’t know what possessed someone to think that a pear is an ideal home for an angel. Nor can I imagine why a gold velvety exterior was deemed to be festive and desirable. Regardless, my pear has adorned many a Christmas tree in various homes, across provinces an

It is far too easy for us to get lost in busy work schedules, family or volunteer commitments, and the pervasiveness of technology. Hobbies seem to be the first things we let slide. Probably because we feel guilty or lazy when we make time for our hobbies. The thing about hobbies is that they are among the few things in life that are about pure enjoyment. And that’s not a bad thing at all. For some, hobbies are relaxing and help clear cluttered heads. For others, hobbies serve to re-energize. Sometimes these hobbies afford us quiet, alone time. While other hobbies draw us out to connect with people with shared interests. Regardless of how hobbies affect you, carve out some time to fit in hobbies. Life is too short not to delight in a favourite activity. Grab that charcoal pen, decorate a cake, pick up a classic book, lace up those runners, seek out those collectibles…whatever suits your fancy. And if you’ve outgrown former hobbies, then dream up a new one. Revel in somethin

The fresh scent of natural evergreen trees simply cannot be replicated. I’m sorry, but those cute scratch-and-sniff Christmas trees in children’s books don’t cut it. Neither do those little Canadian Tire trees people dangle from their rearview mirrors. No, those "trees" smell more like Pine Sol cleaner. But natural evergreens like fir, pine or spruce...aaaaahhhh. It’s amazing to wake up any day during the lead up to Christmas and have that fresh tree scent waft down the hall. This year, thanks to Mike, we went out to Crooked Creek farm to choose our own tree. There we found and cut down a beautiful tree. We also stopped into the farm's wee shack for spiced apple cider and homemade cookies (bonus yummy smells). Since our old car is cavernous, we stuffed our tree inside for the trip home. Now, every time I open my car door, I get to enjoy the lingering Christmas tree scent from the needles scattered about the car. Hey, another reason not to vacuum anytime soon.

A couple of weeks ago at work, I blurted out the word “skedaddle” while talking to a colleague and a spirited university student. In that instant I felt 60 years her senior. Then, just yesterday a friend told me about her young niece’s reaction to the expression “arse over tea kettle.” I heart that expression. It makes me giggle every time I hear it. Those two instances made me think about other terms from the past, which sometimes find their back way into our vocabulary. For me “noggin” and “bugger all” conjure up memories of my grandfather. It makes me smile whenever I catch myself uttering either of those expressions. My move to Atlantic Canada has introduced me to choice sayings. The oddest among them has to be “It’s as cold as a witch’s tit.” I’m not sure how long that expression has been kicking around, but I’m guessing that it has been quite some time. Got any old-fashioned expressions that creep into your vocab all “willy-nilly”? You know, you’re chatting away and

I don't mean that whiny song from Canadian icon Neil Young .  No, that definitely doesn't get categorized as an awesome in my book. I'm talking about that thing of beauty that graces the fall sky. The true Harvest Moon is the full moon appearing closest to the autumnal equinox. Warm, rusty orange hues. The Moon hangs low and large.  Eerie yet gorgeous. It feels like a blessing when the Harvest Moon appears on a cloud-free night. And a Harvest-like Moon reflecting in the Charlottetown harbour in really late fall, well that ranks as extra          AWESOME!

Even the most enjoyable activities can benefit from a brief interlude. My blogging (creative outlet) hiatus was a scheduling necessity and a welcomed break. After taking some time off from routines or work you tend to approach an activity with renewed energy and a fresh perspective. For my blog, perhaps that means I’ll write about something other than food for a change. A pause. A reboot. And everyone benefits. AWESOME! P.S. Thanks for all the emails/calls of concern about my 1.5-week gap in my Random Ramblings.

Today is Friday, which means that yesterday was our girls’ movie night . Instead of a serious classic, we opted for something more recent and lighthearted. Mid-way through the Oscar-nominated Amélie I was reminded of a simple pleasure. One scene briefly mentions the joy a particular character experienced from rapping the back of a spoon on crème brulée’s hard surface. Oh, I must agree that it is great fun to break through that sugar-encrusted top to reach the creamy goodness beneath. AWESOME!

I’m really not a fan of cold weather. Even still, I always enjoy the first snowfall of the season. That dusting of snow covers bare branches and all that is drab brown and grey. And now white snow refreshes everything and reflects extra light. Goodbye dark, damp days of late fall. Welcome bright winter. AWESOME!

In the classic bad dream you turn up naked at school or at work. There are many other nightmare scenarios to cause restless nights: deaths, break ups, fires, showing up late for an exam or an interview, re-living bad decisions or awkward situations, and the list goes on. Regardless of what horror makes you wake up and sit bolt upright in bed, there is a much longer lasting and positive high from that moment when you realize it was all a bad dream. AWESOME!

What are gyros without tzatziki? Nachos without salsa or guacamole? Hamburgers without relish? Fresh bread without butter? Turkey without gravy? Sausages without mustard? Cauliflower without cheese sauce? Chips (or fries) without dips? Steak without barbecue or H57 sauce? Perogies without sour cream? Let's face it, meals and snacks would be dull without condiments. Yet life with them is AWESOME!

You want to go to sleep, but something is keeping you awake.  My annoying ice cube maker at the Marriott Residence Inn.   Your hotel suite's fridge ice maker keeps churning out cubes that crash noisily into a container in the freezer. Your thermostat setting keeps causing the heater to kick in every now and then. A window or door isn't sitting quite right in its frame. You are motivated to temporarily disable the ice maker, find the thermostat's sweet spot, and tame those door and window frames. Solving these annoying noise puzzles feels good. Getting a restful, quiet night's sleep as a result of your mastery, well that is simply AWESOME!

This fall, a friend of mine started inviting the girls over to re-experience favourite films, enjoy movie-related appetizers and have a social. She lets each of us choose movies, which range from true classics to cult classics, and our selections air in her basement theatre every two weeks. Initially, I thought what a great idea. Perhaps I’ll meet new people and be introduced to films I wouldn’t have necessarily chosen on my own. I was right on those accounts, but something completely unexpected also happened. Turns out I experience films in a different way at this stage of my life, compared to let’s say when I was in university, high school or whatever. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised, but I find it fascinating that I take note of things I would have missed all those years ago, or that I can relate to characters in new and odd ways. Back in the day, I likely paid more attention to the soundtracks, eye-candy actors, fashions and one-liners. Sure, the lit major in me watched for

Yes, I’m on a bit of a food kick. As I was writing last week's  pomegranate piece , I caught myself thinking about another fruit I adore…clementines. Tiny. Succulent. Easy to peel. Often seedless. Oh yeah, did I mention reminiscent of Christmas? AWESOME!

No, not in a voyeuristic or stalkerish way. I mean watching that person with pride, admiration and deep-rooted love, but you just happen to be at a distance. It can be a slight distance, such as a small stretch of carpet separating your respective sofas, or it can be as far as the length of a gymnasium. Perhaps you are witnessing the amazing powers your baby has to make someone else smile, how your nephew inspires his teammates, how gentle your brother is when he tends to an ailing parent, how naturally suited your friend seems in the role of a mom, or how your hubby has a knack of making everyone around him feel included and at ease. Times like these make us experience mini bursts of joy as we watch those we love establish special connections with others. And if they happen to catch us watching them, then there's the added pleasure of exchanging a smile, a wink or a knowing nod. AWESOME!

If pomegranates weren’t so delicious, nobody would ever take the time to free those juicy kernels (arils) from their naturally complex packaging. As if the flavour isn’t enough, pomegranates have been used for thousands of years to remedy various health ailments. This fruit is chockfull of free-radical-busting antioxidants and now scientists are studying how pomegranates may deliver health benefits ranging from lowering bad cholesterol and stabilizing type-II diabetes to preventing Alzheimer’s and targeting cancerous cells. AWESOME! Don't believe me? Check out this photo of my breakfast http://www.twitpic.com/33snnw

They ROCK! Masks and crowns keep sliding off. Ears flop over the eyes. Paws hide tiny hands and impede fine-motor skills. Tummies protrude and hamper any attempts to bend. Gowns extend to the floor, tripping up tiny feet. Oversized costumes create a hilarious struggle for dinosaurs, superheroes, princesses, turtles, ladybugs, lions, pumpkins, vampires, legos and ghosts alike. Let’s face it, those trick-or-treaters teeter. Each unsteady step threatens to cause you to spill the overflowing bowl of candy as you shake while trying to suppress laughter. Suddenly a sibling or a parent reaches out to save the day by steadying a wobbly trick-or-treater who has approached your front door. And if it turns too cold in late October― not that that ever happens in Canada ―those oversized outfits even mean you still get to go out trick-or-treating, because your warm clothes can fit UNDERNEATH the Hallowe’en costume.       AWESOME!

Don’t you just love out-of-the-norm reactions? While at the local hospital, I somehow managed to lose my parking stub between the time I parked my car and when I exited the building. As I approached the security gate, I anticipated I’d need to pay the daily maximum, but the attendant smiled and waved me on through. Turns out it wasn’t really the amount of money I saved that pleased me the most. No, it was the look on the attendant’s face when I explained that I had no clue where I had misplaced my parking stub. Without uttering a word, his eyes seemed to express, “Yeah, we’ve all been there at one point or another. Look, forget about it and have a nice day.” I doubt that kind of reaction happens very often. In most cities, the attendant would’ve punched in the daily maximum without even making eye contact with me. So that kind stranger’s response was both unexpected and AWESOME!

I am not sure exactly why, but initials have a strange effect on me. There’s something delicious in the secrecy of initials on a valentine or bouquet card from a secret admirer, or those jotted flirtily on a note passed in class or slipped into a locker. Perhaps that's why I also see romance and mystery in initials scrawled in beach sand or carved into an old desk, a wooden beam, a park bench or a tree. I cannot help but speculate about who left these initials behind. Did they leave the initials of a loved one or their own initials? What were they thinking as they scribbled the initials? How long have the initials been there? Even graffiti spray painted on overpasses and water towers makes me ponder what would drive someone to crudely scrawl those initials. Or, if I spot a man with monogrammed cuff links in line ahead of me or seated at a nearby table, then I wonder what the initials stand for and whether the accessories were a gift. I realize that initials are just t

The vitamins don’t even need to be in the shape of a cartoon character or an animal. Not that that isn't fun too! LOL Just not having to choke back horse pills with your brekkie, yet still getting the boost your body requires. That is AWESOME!

When that kind of happiness lights up someone else’s face you cannot help but feel joy in return. Sheer joy can be nearly as contagious as a yawn. Lucky me, in the past few days I’ve observed and felt joy for those around me. The sources of that joy were varied, but powerful all the same. Early in the week, grade-five Island students lit up as we introduced them to the wonders of science during NRC’s BioQuest celebration for National Science and Technology Week. Shortly thereafter, friends of mine landed new jobs and shared stories of newly kindled loves. Then yesterday, my hubby managed to score less than 100 points at a challenging golf course and a respected entrepreneur told me about sealing a financing deal to take his company to the next level. And last night, I Skyped with my sister, brother-in-law and three-month-old niece. Despite the somewhat stilted, albeit free, video signal traveling from Vancouver, the joy and pride in my sister’s eyes was as contagious as if s

It can be tough to see anything in a positive light when it is pouring outside. Even still, I must say that I appreciate it when a downpour gives my car a much needed car wash. I am pretty sure I’m not the only one who can drive about for weeks (Oh, let’s be honest, months) without giving the car a proper bath to rid it of caked on mud, pollen, whatever. So when a freebie car wash happens and whisks away all that grit and grime, I consider it AWESOME!

My friend Cindy recently cried "Uncle!" I can’t recall if I was teasing her mercilessly at the time or if she was recounting a situation that made her resort to a childhood term to raise the white flag. But whatever the reason, she reminded me of the fun of all those childhood terms. When and why do we outgrow our silly playground lingo? There are certainly times in my career when I’ve wished I could hold colleagues accountable to deadlines or deliverables. If only we could ask them for a “pinkie promise.” Better yet, seal the deal with a “double pinkie swear.” If that isn’t strong enough, then what if you could pull out the big arsenal and make them say, “Cross my heart and hope to die!” And if they breach these oaths and renege on promises, it would be so sweet if you could holler “no take backs.” Okay, I would be hard pressed to find an adult opportunity when I could use “cooties,” but maybe that’s a good exception. But I reserve the right to s

Toasty tushie. Enough said. AWESOME!

Such days are few and far between, but they are very sweet. Zero-obligation days don’t necessarily mean you sit around and do nothing all day long. All they mean is that you aren’t obligated to do anything specific on a given day. Nobody is relying on you at all. You won't disappoint anyone. The world won’t fall apart. You can choose to do something fun and spontaneous instead of the usual responsible and routine activities. Throw caution to the wind! Do something unplanned—whether that means you pack a few snacks and go explore somewhere you’ve never been before, work out followed by a rewarding treat, stay in your jammies for the day, or simply call or write to someone who you haven't been in touch with for ages. Simple or involved, do whatever your heart desires, because nothing and nobody else has dibs on this uninterrupted time of yours. Even the anticipation of a potential zero-obligation day can be wickedly satisfying, but when the actual day materializes, well

Hunger, discomfort or impatience may evoke cries, but for the most part a baby’s repertoire of sounds is far more extensive and highly entertaining. Babies coo, giggle, hiccup, gurgle, squeak, sneeze, snore, slurp, burp, babble, grunt, yawn, squeal with delight, breathe heavily and let out wet bavvy raspberries. Whether the sounds are conscious, uncontrolled, contagious or obvious mimicry, the various components and the sum of the repertoire can be deemed AWESOME!

We've all worked alongside colleagues who don't pull their weight. People who take extra long lunches or frequent smoke breaks, call in sick far too often, never seem to deliver results (let alone on time), and yet nobody else seems to take notice. But let's not talk about the co-workers who drag us down or make us have to work twice as hard. No, let's talk about the rare, but worth-their-weight-in-gold ones who display that dream-team combo of extreme competence and dedication. Whether they are part of your immediate team or part of your broader organization, you recognize these individuals for their incredible contributions. Amazingly, these same colleagues are often the ones who have great personalities, display a surprising dose of modesty and hold themselves to positive work ethics. I consider myself fortunate to work with some of these gems and I've been blessed in the past by having mentors who shone by example. Thank you! Consider yourselves dubbed...

The simile “as soft as a baby’s bottom” doesn’t even begin to cover the many soft baby parts. Moving on up to the face, you’ll find that a baby’s other cheeks are equally soft. Baby hair is smoother than silk. And not having trod around yet, babies even have extra smooth soles of their feet. If companies could develop a product to replicate baby softness for those of us who have been ravaged by time, sun and everything we face in our daily environment, then those shareholders would be laughing all the way to the bank. Advertisers may tout baby soft results, but that’s all talk. If a product truly delivered on its baby soft promise, then EVERYONE would find out about it at the speed of lightning via word of mouth and tweets…no traditional ads required. Until that day comes, and I do hope it does, we just have to live vicariously through infants and their softness that is so very AWESOME!

Your paths haven’t crossed in ages. At most, you’ve cast guilt-ridden looks its way as you dug for something in the far reaches of your closet. At worst, it has been stored away in a “fat clothes box” in the basement or attic. But at long last you muster up the nerve to try on that old favourite. To your delight, you can wiggle it up over your hips or slide it down over your head and shoulders. Yep, that outfit is back in your repertoire of feel-good garb. This is cause for celebration! Your favourite outfit no longer puckers where the buttons meet or creates tight waistband grooves that make you gasp for breath. AWESOME!

Nothing tastes better than fresh, homegrown food. Harvesting these fall treats with a friend just makes everything taste even better. It doesn't matter if you score corn, butternut squash, zucchini, carrots, peppers, acorn squash, tomatoes of all sizes and colours, cauliflower, leeks, spaghetti squash, peppers, beans, fall lettuce or herbs. Yum! For anyone who lives in a concrete metropolis, I suggest you take a break and flee the city. Head to the neighbouring rural areas and pick up locally grown produce at a roadside stand or farmers' market. You’ll support hardworking farmers and you'll benefit from delicious, healthy, and possibly even organic, food. Not a veggie fanatic? This is also the time of year to scoop up fresh cranberries. Seriously, who can resist those compact, tart, antioxidant-rich gems? If you don't bake or can't convince someone else to bake with them, then at the very least toss some cranberries into a favourite drink and raise your glass to toa

Yes, sunscreen is very important. And hats and snazzy shades are nearly as critical on a sunny day. But, after factoring in UVA and UVB protection, turn your face up towards the sun. As those rays warm your cheeks, the lines around your eyes will relax, a smile will stretch across your face and you’ll slip into a period of AWESOME!

How can you not love those chunks of cheese as they squeak when you bite into them? They don’t need to be refrigerated in the same way as other cheeses. Many Canadians even top their french fries with cheese curds before smothering the whole mess in gravy. It may be bizarre cheese, but it also ranks as AWESOME!

Spring and fall tend to bring lots of showers. Those heavy rains flush earthworms out of their subterranean existence by the hundreds. The worms are strewn about every paved area, leaving you with little choice but to tread carefully, tiptoeing in search of worm-free spots to step. I admit there’s another option, but as a gardener who appreciates those hardworking earthworms, I simply cannot bear to just stomp my way through their path. I know that certain varieties of worms can regenerate parts of their bodies, but I doubt a worm would survive to multiply if my boot or shoe crushed it under my full weight. As much as rainy days can suck, there’s some joy in making it across your driveway or parking lot without slipping on any long, slimy worms. Outmaneuvering nature, maintaining your composure and winning the earthworm obstacle course… AWESOME!

“Signs, signs, everywhere a sign.” Those famous lyrics, sung by both the Five Man Electrical Band and Tesla, describe how many of us feel in this world full of excessive signage. We’re bombarded by signs of all shapes, sizes and colours. So much so that we often tune them out, but every now and then, we’re rewarded with a chuckle for paying attention to some of the signs around us. During my vacation last week, I saw a few precious examples. The signs were posted in all seriousness, and yet I couldn’t help but break out laughing. The best one was in Sandy Hill (Ottawa), just steps away from Rideau Street. The sign, intended to warn motorists of a bump to keep traffic speed in check, read: Speed Hump . Now I’ve heard of speed dating and quickies, but this was the first time I’ve ever seen a sign for a speed hump. I must remember to arm myself with a camera during my next drive through Sandy Hill. The second best example was a sign for a community in northeastern Quebec: Saint-Lo

Today, back-to-school shopping is all about new laptops, cellphones and funky wardrobes of fashionable clothing. In my day, the excitement of gearing up for school was about less expensive, basic items. Don’t get me wrong; however small, I still anticipated that haul in a big way. So much so that I still smile when I see Hilroy notebooks, colourful pencil crayons or even those protractor kits in tiny tins. Call me a geek, but as much as I loved summer weather, I was excited about back-to-school rituals. Getting a new pencil case that didn’t have frayed bits catching in its zipper or maybe another lunch box if last year’s was rusting out or the thermos was leaky. I know, I’m old. This was long before the neoprene bags of today. I always looked forward to heading back to the classroom. Writing out my binder divider tabs for each subject. Choosing photos and stuff to decorate the inside of my locker. Tucking new books and all those back-to-school goodies into a knapsack/backpack

They’re all awesome, and yet, the Victoria Day (or two-four weekend) has always been extra special. As a child, it marked the onset of days at the park, pool parties and playing outside until late. As a teenager, it signaled the first camping trip of the year. In university, it meant exams were done, a new job had begun and warm days had arrived. In adulthood, Victoria Day is a welcomed date too, because I can plant seedlings, veggies and other new goodies in the gardens without the risk of overnight frost. And now that I live in PEI, long weekends also present great opportunities for quality beach time and a triple-bill at the Brackley drive-in. AWESOME!

Whether at work or at home, we’ve all had crappy days. Some are worse than others. The beauty of experiencing a day that sucks is that when you wake up the next morning you’re ready to put it all behind you. Buh bye! It’s a new day. Sunrise presents a chance for a complete do over. That’s right, BRING IT. Oh yeah, and make it… AWESOME!

It is gratifying to successfully wrap something up on your first attempt. Sure, we learn from our mistakes. And yes, the journey can sometimes be nearly as important as the end point or outcome. It’s even true that collaborating with others may lead to a better outcome and getting others to review your work will likely improve it overall. I can honestly say I’ve learned many things by joining forces with people who approach a task from an altogether different perspective than mine. The trick is to avoid getting sucked into that dreaded vortex, I dub version-control hell . Not sure if you've experienced it? Well, you've been there if you’ve ever opened a file that contains so many “track changes” colours that it looks like a 1960s psychedelic experiment. Deadly. Fortunately, every now and then, the stars align and your initial crack at something turns out to be THE one. Yes, a single, delicious take. AWESOME!

I am not referring to bumping into or talking to someone with whom you've been out of touch for ages. And just because someone from your past befriends you through Facebook, there isn't necessarily a genuine connection there either. I mean truly reconnecting. You know, when without even trying you skip over awkward silences and instantly fall into comfy conversation and your old groove. That doesn't happen with everyone, but when you do experience it... AWESOME!

Distributed to email subscribers on May 20, 2010 Call me strange, but I get a little rush when I discover a new word. Flipping through a dictionary doesn’t count. It has to be a chance encounter with the new-to-me word. I trip across them while reading books, blogs and my favourite magazines, or friends play these wild new words to rack up points during our Lexulous and Scrabble matches. There's a lot to be said for the magic of language. The whacked scientific terms I find at work don’t usually count, but yesterday I found a doozer while looking for a French term in the federal translation database. I needed to know the French equivalent for freezer/cold room and the database spat out this gem: pièce frigorifique. Not saying I agree with the translation, but who knew that anything could be frigorifique? AWESOME!

I’m not talking about the spring forward time of year when we steal daylight hours from the morning and tack them on to the end of the day. That’s cheating. No, I mean those late spring and early summer days that stretch far into the evening. My earlier blog entry on the Summer Solstice introduced this topic. Now I want to share the benefits. These added hours of daylight are so welcome, because many people experience: • Added productivity – Don’t you find you get so much more accomplished during the lengthened daylight hours? Whether it is projects at work or chores in the yard, we just seem to get more done. Can’t speak for everyone, but I’m certainly solar powered. • Guilt-free breaks – That extra productivity earns us relaxing days at the beach and other guilt-free time to play in the daylight. • A break from hours of buzzing fluorescent lights – Instead, natural light floods into workplaces sparing us all from the droning sounds emitted from office lights overhead. • An overall

At last you get word. That certain someone you care about is out of the danger zone and can come home from hospital. For everyone this marks an end to the worries, finger crossing and praying. For the patient, getting released represents so many positive things: • an end to the waiting game (e.g., when will the doctor visit with more test results or news, when is the nurse going to administer the next dose of meds); • the potential of a future with much less pain; • a return to privacy, control and independence – no more poking and prodding; • hope for quieter times without noisy carts, beeping equipment, announcements over loudspeakers, moaning and cantankerous fellow patients and their boisterous visitors; • a nearly full night’s rest without being awoken for vital checks or meds; • bidding farewell to fasting or clear fluids and welcoming REAL food; • heading out into clean, fresh air and leaving behind the stale institutional ventilation, foreign smells and the inevitable bed bugs

It is gut wrenching when gorgeous weather falls on a weekday. Even the most dedicated employees can feel the beach beckoning. Tremendous will power and focus are required to resist that urge to grab your sunglasses and drive to the shore. There’s no denying it, that call of the beach is potent. At the mere thought of going to the beach, your various senses are bombarded. Listen carefully and you can hear the cries of children jumping the waves and gulls flying overhead. Close your eyes and you can practically feel the warm sand between your toes, smell the fresh sea air, taste your favourite picnic food and see the words dancing across the page of your beach read. Fortunately, every now and then, the right weather and your time away from the office will intersect, so heed that call. Grab your family or friends, then head straight for the coastline. When a perfect beach day coincides with your weekend, you're likely to feel like a lottery winner. Getting consecutive beach

Have you ever coveted someone else’s pen? Okay, not everyone feels as strongly as I do about pens, but chances are you've felt their pull from time to time. Perhaps you've noticed a particularly smooth-writing pen a cashier gave you to sign a credit card slip. Or maybe you've felt like your pens are inadequate after you borrowed a different pen from a colleague to jot down a quick thought on a post-it note while in another office. Oh, the choices abound. Gel. Roller ball. Ballpoint. Fountain pen. Hell, a quill, if that’s what you fancy. Medium, fine point or micro scratchiness. (Does my bias scream through here?) Soft finger grip or not. Thin or thick neck. A heavily weighted barrel or a pen that barely registers any weight.. Black, purple, blue, green, fluorescent, metallic or any other colour from the rainbow of available ink. Whatever you choose, make it the perfect pen for you, at that very moment. It will make the task at hand that much better, whether you’re writing i

Far too often, hectic work schedules lead us to skip lunch and breaks. We arrive early and leave late. In between time, we motor through the day, juggling meetings, emails, calls, tweets and impromptu hallway updates from colleagues. Somewhere in that mix, we scrounge stray minutes and blocks of time to tackle plans and hammer out project deliverables. Oh, what a difference it makes when we manage to score time to take a quick break. Maybe you dash out to meet friends for quick bite at the local farmers’ market, scoot to your favourite restaurant to snag something delicious, sit at a picnic table with colleagues, or grab a sandwich and go for a brief walk or jog. Wherever you choose to go during your midday escape, the food you consume will fuel your body. The bonus is that if you stop for lunch you'll not only get the energy boost from eating, but the break will also recharge your mind and maybe even give you a fresh outlook on the rest of the day. So much so that you’ll be tempte

As many of you know, I finally decided to take my health into my own hands and get serious about fitness. As a first step, I signed up for Ufit’s grueling bootcamp classes this spring. Bootcamp ran through until July 20th. Step two has been to keep up the bootcamp homework sessions and alternate that with cardio workouts. So far, I’ve been uncharacteristically disciplined. My body is screaming at me, but I’m bound and determined to make this work. Having a dedicated partner in crime helps too!!! Step three is to cross the nearly 13-km long Confederation Bridge on FOOT. Yes, on September 19th I will walk/jog across the world’s longest bridge (to span ice-covered waters). What was an engineering feat for Canada will become a feat of endurance for me. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to participate in this special 30th anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope. My trek across the Confederation Bridge will also support cancer research to honour those I’ve lost to cancer as well as

It is such fun when you discover unexpected functionality in something you have had for years. When these hidden capabilities make you more productive, then they are even more appreciated. Maybe it is a quirky, but useful app for your mobile device. A quick and simple way to override your camera’s default settings. A one-touch button tucked away in your car to save you two or more steps than other buttons and gauges. Or a colleague shows you a software shortcut for your electronic calendar. Zip, zip, zip. Who knew you could dash about that quickly. Control – Alt – AWESOME !

Meetings can either help move a project along or eat chunks out of your work day. While some meetings are essential to our jobs, many meetings are unorganized and dull. Sadly, other meetings deteriorate into whining or worse yet, unprofessional and unconstructive fingerpointing. Coping mechanisms can help you get through the many meetings in your work week. Preparation. Thick skin. Bringing along a mug of your favourite tea. Certain meetings can also bring joy. You know the ones. They are cancelled at the last minute and cause an unexpected gap in an otherwise busy day. No matter how you choose to spend your "free" time, the beauty of a postponed or kiboshed meeting is in the surprise opening in your overcrowded Outlook calendar. AWESOME!

Ahhh, sink right on in. Your neck is well supported. There’s room to fold your legs up under you, but your feet can also touch the floor. The chair is tucked away in your own quiet nook. Sun can pour in through a nearby window to make you all toasty. The chair's fabric is cozy, not itchy or smelly. When you climb in, the chair doesn’t squeak or make any embarrassing sounds. So reach for your book, sip your tea and settle in. And if that's not up your alley, then boot up your laptop to catch up with friends via social media, or close your eyes and drift off to dream in your comfy chair. AWESOME!

Fun Dip, Bottlecaps, Starburst, Bazooka, Jawbreakers, Sweet Tarts, Juicy Fruit, Pez, Popeye Cigarettes, Candy necklaces, Swedish Berries, Pop Rocks, Jelly Belly beans, Kraft Caramels, Thrills, Chiclets… Sugar rush + blast from the past = AWESOME!

Squeals and shrieks. Giggles and guffaws. Laughs of all kinds, barring the highly annoying ones (recall Janice from “Friends” fame). A good belly laugh does wonders for just about anyone’s mood. Step that up a notch to contagious laughter and it's priceless. In the past week, I’ve been fortunate to be swept away by just such fits of laughter on a couple of occasions. The first time involved a young girl seated in the row ahead of us during a Sunday afternoon showing of “Despicable Me” at Charlottetown's Empire Theatres. Every time an animated character would say or do anything related to farts, the girl down front would let out peals of infectious laughter, which would cause our shoulders to shake with giggles. She may have made me chuckle as much as the movie did. :) The second case of giggle-itis was a serial episode. On two consecutive days this holiday weekend, I shared countless laughs that carried across sand and water. At both Greenwich and Lakeside—and I’m sure countl

If you’re anything like me, you enjoy indulging in food that really isn’t that good for you. With any luck, you’re better than me and you do so far less often, but that’s another story. For me, such indulgences mean popping into a Wendy’s. After debating whether to order something sweet or salty, I may opt for the former and order fries instead of a Frosty. The teenager at the cash register rings in my order, takes my pocket change and heads over to the stainless steel bin under the heat lamps. To the teen’s dismay, the drive-thru staffer has just scoffed the last of the fries. The teen looks forlorn and shifts from one foot to the other with impatience. Oh darn. I’ve missed out on the less-than-hot, straggler fries. I’ll just have to wait all of 30 to 45 seconds for first dibs at a fresh batch of salty yumminess. AWESOME!

I’m enjoying a Friday off, so I’m posting a new-to-my-blog Awesome, which I originally distributed via email back in May. Reaching that point in the year when your pay cheque deductions change Opening a paystub can become mundane. You know what to expect. More often than not, the money is already spent or set aside well before the direct deposit happens. Then one day, you notice your take-home amount is higher than usual. That’s right, you've reached that time of year when either the employment insurance and/or Canada Pension Plan deductions are maxed out (can’t recall which one - see how little attention I give to pay stubs). Doesn't matter though. From here on in, each pay day will include a bit more money for you. AWESOME!

Hummingbirds are truly awesome creatures. I adore watching them dart around, hover over a nectar-filled flower, and squeak at one another as the spirited little birds fight for access to a feeder. Even at the fastest shutter speed it is tough to capture great photos of hummingbirds. They flap their wings up to 75 times per second! I’m exhausted just typing that, yet these birds will fly all the way from Eastern Canada to South America during the fall migration. They must eat well to be able to expend that much energy over such a long distance when they weigh in at less than 3 grams. I chose to write about hummingbirds, because yesterday I was out in my garden gazing at my red bee balm flowers just wishing that I’d hear the loud buzz or high squeaks of my little feathered friends. My all-time favourite moment with hummingbirds happened four or five years ago. A male, ruby-throated hummingbird was perched on my clothesline in a rainstorm. He sat there shaking his entire body as he bathed

How many times a day are you prompted for different passwords? It is frustrating that debit/credit cards, websites, networks and databases have so many requirements for password length, alpha-numeric combinations, mixes of upper and lower case letters, and frequency of expiry. Who can possibly keep them all straight? It is especially tough when you return from a vacation or it has been a long time since you tried accessing that particular resource. You can run through the various login or ID possibilities in your head, but sometimes the dust bunnies in the deepest recesses of your brain won’t clear long enough for you to find that passcode. Pleading silently doesn’t work. And speaking from experience, shouting “Open Sesame” or “À-la-peanut-butter-sandwiches” doesn’t do the trick either. Certain systems boot you out after too many unsuccessful attempts. Then you have to resort to requesting a new password. Pain in the butt!!! It makes you appreciate it all the more when “Shazam” you sud

That’s right, the full ones. Not a partial arc that disappears into the clouds. Not the mini ones from dishsoap bubbles. Certainly not the wannabes formed in oil puddles. I’m talking about the perfect semicircles arcing high into the sky and displaying red right on through to violet. Now the scientists I work with would argue that there is a full spectrum of colour, not distinct colours or bands of colour. That may be scientifically accurate, but I choose to see red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Beyond the visual beauty of rainbows, I also choose to believe they signify many other things. Not necessarily pathways to a pot of gold, but hope and magical endings. My childhood buddy Kermit the Frog saw rainbows as much more than optical illusions. When he belted out “The Rainbow Connection,” he sang about the pull to be something more. The lyrics clearly state that “someday we’ll find it.” So even if we cannot pinpoint what IT is yet, according to Jim Hensen’s green Muppet, “The

Die-hard golfers and newbies alike enjoy a gratifying rush when their golf game improves. What I find most fascinating is that while you usually golf with others, it is very much a sport in which you compete with yourself. Unless you’re in a best ball tournament, golf cannot be described as a team sport. Most golfers care less about how everyone else scored and more about how they’re playing relative to their own past other games. So you’re not trying to kick the butts of the other people in your golfing foursome. Instead, you’re noting if you shanked the ball less than last season, scored a few extra birdies and eagles (or in my case, bogeys and pars), putted more consistently, or shaved precious strokes off your total. Achieving any of those improvements feels great, even if it is short lived, lasting only a single hole or just the front nine. Knowing that you’ve stepped up your game, and that a cold drink awaits at the 19th hole, well that’s just… AWESOME!

“Way to go!” “Keep it up!” “Awesome, girl!” “Congratulations!” “So proud of you!” "Loved today's Awesome!" Those are powerful words. They are even stronger and very much appreciated when offered up by family and friends, which is exactly what happened after I posted and emailed yesterday’s “Awesome.” Nearly every one of my regular readers gave me just that kind of support on Wednesday. I suspect that the very few who didn’t get in touch were those who are on unplugged vacations or who had such busy schedules that they didn’t manage to read “ The first sign of results from a workout regimen .” Thank you for the words of encouragement I received by phone, email, text, and in one case, even a comment on my blog (yay!). Today is my first Thursday without boot camp, but the supportive words from all of you gave me the boost I needed to crawl out of bed extra early to squeeze in a great workout before heading to the office this morning. Knowing people are cheering you on… AWESO

Have you been taking the stairs more often? Cycling to work? Attending Pilates classes or going to the gym? Walking trails with family or friends? Rollerblading on that newly paved and relatively level road? Summer not only brings great weather, but it also ushers in patio season and an abundance of COWS. It is tough to resist the pull of beer, ice cream and good company, so many of us vow to start moving a little more to offset those summer indulgences. Whatever you’ve taken up, you’ll feel a rush of satisfaction when you see early hints of results from your efforts. For some, those signs may be that your clothes fit better, your arms jiggle less, you don’t get as winded when you climb several flights of stairs, or maybe you even shed a few pounds. Last night marked the official end of my grueling boot camp classes. Amazingly, I didn’t injure myself, but that's not to say I didn't feel pain! What's the best part of it all? I now know I can do more push ups than I used to b

Finding a Scotch tape dispenser with just enough left in it to finish wrapping a present. Having the right colour thread you need to sew on that button. Unexpectedly discovering you have the energy to complete that last push up. Digging out a screwdriver that is the exact shape and size to tighten that wobbly chair leg. Opening the fridge only to find you have a jug containing the right amount of milk required for your cereal and tea. AWESOME!

Train travel is a fine way to get from point A to point B. This isn't news to our friends across the pond. Europeans rely heavily upon train travel. As do millions of people in Asia-Pacific. Trains just might be the least stressful and least chaotic mode of transportation. In some cases, riding the rails can even save you some hard-earned cash, especially if you're a student or a senior. Unlike driving, you get to put your feet up, read, people watch, sleep or simply relax throughout your journey. There doesn’t seem to be as many rules, obstacles, security points and delays compared to traveling by plane. Train travel is somehow more civilized and less cramped than bus travel. At times, train travel seems a tad romantic. It can also make you feel like you’ve stepped into the past. Even the train stations are often beautiful, from an architectural point of view. Hop on board. Choo, choo. AWESOME!

Prior to June 10th, I distributed my "awesomes" or random ramblings to a select few via email. After pressure from some of my friends, I began to post these notes as blog entries. I chose to start the trend with my June 10th post, because I was curious what scents (if any) triggered childhood memories for those who read my awesomes. But, it turns out very few ever choose to comment online. Perhaps it is just easier to read the email, or it seems too public or time consuming to visit the blog. Whatever the reason, I'll keep logging them here for posterity, and in the hopes that some of you may jump into the fray and start adding your two cents worth, even if it is only from time to time. Feel a bit shy? You can even comment anonymously. Okay, on with the show. The awesome below is one I shared on June 9th, right before my blog versions. I'm re-issuing this entry as a much needed, post-boot camp reminder to myself that I actually wanted this pain. Owwwwwwwwww. Feelin

Oh, oh, shall I bring all these? What about this? Whether you’re writing your lists or actually stuffing your belongings into a suitcase, the steps involved in packing for a fun trip are enjoyable. Anticipating what you’re going to do when you arrive truly helps you dream up what you may need to stash away in your luggage. Even if you despise airports and the travel process itself, the packing part of your trip can distract you, and then before you know it you’re there. AWESOME!

It is delicious when a good friend reaches out to you. Friends come in all shapes and sizes. Some we see often; others less so. Some we’ve known since childhood; others are new-found joys or chums we met in our university days. Regardless of how or when you meet, it is always a treat to get a text message or a call from a good friend. Whether that person is popping by for a visit or making a virtual visit by reaching out through social media. However brief, unexpected visits with good friends are great for the heart and soul. Having an unexpected real visit and a virtual visit from two friends in the space of 24 hours… AWESOME! AWESOME!

Non-invasive surgery with quick recovery times. Memory keys (a.k.a. thumb drives or USBs) that easily hold GBs worth of data without all the hassle of burning stuff to CDs. Telescopes providing breathtaking images from distant galaxies. Applications that automatically recognize practically any song within a couple of beats (à la Shazam). Idiot-proof bread machines. PVRs that record as you watch something else and can rewind live TV. MRIs and ultrasounds. Kijiji, eBay, Amazon. 3D movies. Watching your niece in near-real time video from 4,000 km away...for free, courtesy of Skype. AWESOME!

What an event for everyone involved. From a proud parent and beaming grandparents, right on through to excited aunts and uncles, siblings, family friends and even neighbours—one and all root for the expanding family. The anticipation begins early. People speculate when or if a family is part of someone’s grand plan. Then news trickles out by phone and Facebook that a baby is on the way. This news often marks the end of the first trimester when the future looks safer for baby, unless the family is growing through adoption or step-children. In most cases, the magical announcement that a baby is coming means the beginning of shortlisting baby names, waiting for puzzling-to-decipher ultrasound photos, hunting for bargains on essential items, watching and listening to the momma-to-be experience pregnancy, and attending/planning showers. Then before you know it, the due date is right around the corner. Whether baby arrives early, as scheduled or days late, you can be certain that family and

With the exception of farmers experiencing a drought, most of us can’t wait for rain to stop. There are even some vocal people who seem to do little else than complain about the weather as they gripe about the rain, the heat, the snow, the fog, ad nauseum . Personally, a good dousing of rain helps my veggie garden along without me having to lug out the garden hose. Those showers can rinse off your patio furniture and give your car a light wash provided you park in the driveway instead of the garage. When the skies open up, heavy rains can also power wash streets and sidewalks as the grit and construction dirt gets swept away by mini rivers rushing along the curbs. These are all convenient benefits of rain, but the best of all is when rain gets you out of a dreaded task. Maybe it’s a chore you’re reluctant to tackle (oops, can’t mow the lawn today, it’s raining) or an event you’re apprehensive about attending (an outdoor wedding where you won’t know anyone other than the bride or groom)

A random rambling about something awesome (inspired by Neil Pasricha's "Book of Awesome") It is so disappointing to lose something special. You rack your brain trying to remember where you put whatever it is you cannot find. You know you put it somewhere specifically so you couldn’t misplace it. Where was that again?!?! Over time, you finally resign yourself to the fact that your precious item is gone. You write it off, but the memory or guilt of the loss doesn’t fade. That’s why it is so exhilarating when weeks, months or even years later, you trip across your lost treasure in a most unexpected place. AWESOME times a gazillion!

Before heading to bed you checked the Weather Network and Environment Canada sites, hoping that one of them would give you a glimmer of hope. The forecast was sketchy at best for the next day. Then you wake up to snow or rain—weather that threatens to ruin a much anticipated day or soirée. Perhaps it’s a family reunion picnic, an outing requiring a long drive, an outdoor graduation ceremony, wedding photos or a staff golf tournament. Seeing the inclement weather makes you feel discouraged, but you forge ahead with your day. You know you are not alone in wishing or praying for the weather to improve. Then miraculously, the weather takes a turn for the better, just in time for your event. The storm clouds roll on out and the sun breaks through. Apart from everyone having to wear shoes to cope with wet grass and puddles, your event is in business again. AWESOME!

Toddlers and awkward teens right on through to grown ups enjoy a good tuck in. Tuck ins are cozy and a sign of love. Revel in them, regardless of whether your tuck in involves a duvet, a sleeping bag, a cotton throw, a handmade quilt or even a jacket. Most of the time you’ll sleep right through the tuck in, without being fully conscious of the tuck-in joys. But then there are those special times, when you’re right at the precipice of slumber and you feel the warmth of the tuck in. You smile, but you’re too drowsy to actually wake up to thank the god or goddess who blessed you with the tuck in. AWESOME!

Struggling to understand how something works. Piecing together a puzzle. Sorting out how a person is related to someone else. Recalling a fact from yesterday or the furthest reaches of your memory. At times, attempting to figure something out can feel like a major workout. Hmmming and hawing, these daily feats exercise your grey matter. That ah-ha moment when you finally figure something out… AWESOME!

Chances are you’ve experienced that sinking feeling when you hear the garbage truck approaching even though your bags or bins aren’t curbside. It doesn’t matter whether or not your trash day is the same day each week. We all forget from time to time. Yet, those times only happen when you’re already in a rush, you’re dressed up for work and it is raining, snowing or gusting outside. And why is it that those times you forget tend to coincide with when your bins are full to the brim (e.g., the first pick-up day following Christmas or spring cleaning)? Or worse yet, the height of fruit fly season and the stickiest, humid (translation: SMELLY) days of the year. There’s absolutely no room for you to add in the castoffs you’ll collect for the next week or two when the truck is scheduled to visit again. As frustrating as it can be to miss out on the garbage, compost or recycling collectors, there’s much satisfaction in knowing that all is well. Hearing the clatter of those big trucks approachi

For early risers, the Summer Solstice is a treat. It doesn’t matter that you wake up early, because the sunshine is already pouring into your room. The days leading up to and stretching out from the longest day of the year (June 21) are golden. That sun of ours travels a path farthest from the celestial equator and you get to enjoy sunny mornings AND sunsets that last until well after 9 p.m. If you live in Alaska or the Northwest Territories, then your enjoyment can stretch until nearly midnight. How great is that? AWESOME!

A random rambling about something awesome (inspired by Neil Pasricha's "Book of Awesome") In a world of gadgetry and fast obsolescence, you can easily end up with reams of cords to power up cell phones, download content from digital cameras or video cams, synch laptops to an iPhone or Blackberry, connect a computer to a digital projector or TV, and transfer MP3s to your iPod or personal music device. Sadly, most of these devices have varying USB sizes, or worse yet, proprietary connections. Simply put, more often than not, these cables cannot be interchanged between your electronic gadgets. And then there are the extra 12-volt ones for your car, but don’t get me started on those curly, phone cord-like bodies that get tangled far too easily. Whether you keep your connector cords in a drawer, a pile next to your computer, stuffed in a bag on your desk, or neatly folded and arranged in kits organized for each of your devices, there’s a certain level of satisfaction when you

They may be few and far between, but great hair days are powerful when they occur. Great hair days are equivalent to Confidence Clothes days (see May 25th Awesome), but there’s no shopping required. I suppose shopping could be required if new hair product has caused the great hair day, but great hair days can happen without a trip to the pharmacy or salon. Beyond the confidence boost you experience from a great hair day, you also gain all that time you don’t waste coaxing your hair to style a certain way before you leave the house in the morning. The cherry on top is when you step outdoors and realize that there isn’t any wind or rain to prematurely ruin your great hair day. AWESOME!

Portabello mushrooms, corn on the cob, shish kabobs, fresh salmon, burgs, potatoes, a pot of mussels, steak or even more elaborate and fancy meals—they all smell much better when they are cooked on a barbecue. Vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike cannot resist the pull of a barbecue, because something incredible happens as food drippings strike a grilling surface. Barbecuing can signal great weather, or not. It is amazing how many people will brave the elements (and insects) just to cash in on barbecue rewards. They huddle under carports, set up on wraparound patios and open garage doors during rain showers, high winds and snow storms. The barbecue experience can be enjoyed solo just as easily as in a large, social gathering. Barbecues can even conjure up envy when you are drawn by the smells emanating from someone else’s backyard. Dinner is grilling and you wish you were invited. The flipside of that experience is when your senses are drawn to those all-too-familiar barbecue scen

A random rambling about something awesome (inspired by Neil Pasricha's "Book of Awesome") A thank you out of the blue is a treat. An utterance. A thank you card. A bouquet. A quick email or text message. A phone call. A smile. Whatever the form, an unexpected thank you is AWESOME!

Another one of Lise's random ramblings about something awesome Play-doh. Mr. Sketch scented markers. Easy-Bake Oven cakes and frosting. Your grandfather’s aftershave or grandmother’s perfume/powder (and in my case, sherry and scotch) New Barbie smell. Coppertone, egg salad and other beach/picnic scents. Vinyl (from your clear umbrella, your first bike's seat and handlebar streamers, …) Fun Dip. Elmer’s white glue. Baby shampoo, baby powder, baby oil, baby lotion Double Bubble, Hubba Bubba, Trading card gum, Bubbalicious… Dusty, slightly burned smell of watching 8mm home movies or slides. Eraser bits from Erasermate pens. Fruit-flavoured lip gloss. Chlorine, rubber dodge balls, chalk (for the balance beam, pummel horse or rings), floor mats and other YMCA-YWCA Campfires and Hibachi barbecue briquettes. Orange McDonald's drink from church events. Scratch-n-sniff stickers. AWESOME!