Lise's Ramblings

With any luck you felt unconditional love early in life from either a parent or grandparent. Some of you may have experienced another overwhelming taste of unconditional love when you met your first child (or in my case, niece). I'm thankful that I have various sources of boundless love, ranging from family to friends. And I consider myself extra fortunate for finding, marrying and spending nearly 20 years with the consummate love of my life. He shows me in small and grand ways that his love knows no limits. Any wonder I vowed to sign up for a lifetime dose of unconditional love. Exceptionally AWESOME!

Just like my Confidence Clothes entry, this is something I wrote back in May 2010, but only distributed via email. This one differs from the similar Comfy, but Ugly Clothes entry right before that , because these comfy clothes are not necessarily eyesores. Comfy clothes Unlike confidence clothes, comfy clothes have nothing to do with arming you to go out into the big, bad world. Comfy clothes are the ones you wear after you take off your work clothes. It is rather comforting to peel off jackets, dress pants and blouses and slip into a comfy "outfit" that feel like a second skin. Most often, comfy clothes are cotton jeans, sweatshirts and big socks. They have been washed so often that the fabric feels like brushed cotton. Comfy clothes can just as easily be made of fabrics that started out super cozy, such as terry or microfiber. Whatever the fabric, you know you are in a happier place the minute you slip into your comfy clothes. AWESOME!

My apologies to those of you who have been reading these via email since April as the random rambling below is a repeat from May 25th. My distribution list has grown and I hadn't posted this entry on my online blog, so it seemed a natural follow-up message to the January 25th Comfy, but ugly clothes entry. Confidence clothes We’ve all had confidence clothes at various stages of life. A perfect pair of jeans. Shoes that make your calves look fantastic. A top that is cut just right. Pants that don't crease. A skirt that stops at that elusive juncture, somewhere below “too short for someone who isn't a teen” and above “hiding beneath floor-length fabric.” Confidence outfits and confidence wardrobes are rare, but a single piece of confidence clothing can make a world of difference. Confidence clothes may or may not reel in compliments from others, but that doesn't matter. Confidence clothes aren’t about how others perceive you. No, the magic is in how these cl...

I suppose that could just as easily have read “butt ugly” or even “bug-ly” for any millennials reading this blog entry. You must know the clothes I mean. Maybe it’s something velour, a ratty sweatshirt, saggy-bottomed track pants, well-worn flannel jammies, holey runners, or dare I say, Crocs. Judge away, if you must. I know I certainly have more than my share of those don’t-venture-outside-of-the-house-in-these items. But tell me honestly, when you return home after a long day, you don’t dream of putting on a tie or some nylons, do you? No, you fantasize about slipping into your comfy, but ugly clothes. Resistance is futile. I’d wager that even fashionistas must have an outfit or two that would fall into this category. Even actress Julia Stiles is cited on BrainyQuote.com for saying, “I wear everything from hip-hop baggy pants to beautiful Armani dresses.” So give in and don your coziest, albeit hideous outfits, and experience a guilty pleasure that is truly AWESO...

Considering how many buildings are designated scent-free now, it is surprising that nearly every airport, restaurant, gas station, store and hotel washroom has soap that stinks to high heaven. Seriously, I am astounded by all the overpowering soap smells I encounter. Yes, there are worse smells emanating from public washrooms, but there is no need for the hand soap to remind you of floral Avon perfumes worn by 95-year-old women. Blech!! But every now and then, you somehow happen upon a washroom (or water closet, as Mom-Mom, my British grandmother used to say) stocked with unscented soap. You run your hands under the water, pump the soap dispenser and begin to lather away. Within seconds, you let out a whoop (okay, truth be told it may be more of a Homer Simpson woohoo that escapes you). All that to prove what a joy it is to discover that the available hand soap doesn't assault your senses. AWESOME!

How we meet new authors can vary. Perhaps a friend recommends the author’s works or you read a positive review by an author or journalist you respect. Maybe you simply trip across an intriguing book jacket in your local bookstore. No matter how your path crosses with that new author, with any luck you will come away with a satisfying find. Whether you read mysteries, classic literature or non-fiction books, it helps to broaden your pool of choice authors. And if you’re anything like me, you must find new authors. I know that I steal every possible minute to curl up in a comfy spot and speedily devour everything and anything written by my favourite authors. Unfortunately, that well eventually runs dry and then you have torturous waits between publication schedules. Worse yet, when authors die, you will eventually read your way through every precious work that will ever be written by them. I sigh to think that I’ll never read another labour of love by Mordecai Richler, Carol Shield...

These are the folks who assist seniors who have wandered off in their jammies, feed the homeless or tap your shoulder to let you know you’ve dropped some money when you’re fumbling with your wallet at the checkout counter. You know, the kind of people who help someone out for no reason other than that it is the right thing to do. I love those people! Earlier this week, I managed to lose my new leather mittens. When I woke up from my absentminded haze and realized that my mittens were gone, I was convinced that I had seen the last of them. Nevertheless, I retraced my steps. Turns out that some kindly soul turned in my red mitts at Tim Horton’s. As an added bonus, the employee who had fallen in love with my mitts admitted that they had been turned in and gave them back to me with a smile. Within 20 minutes of noticing that I had lost my mittens, I was able to cram my hands back into their fuzzy warmth. I didn’t meet the good Samaritan who found my mitts, but that person certainly...

Births, graduations, retirement, anniversaries and the like are widely celebrated. What we tend to overlook are the minor milestones in life. I say we should mark other moments, regardless of their size. It is unlikely that I’ll be around for centenary birthdays, but last week I posted my 100th blog entry , which is a smaller centennial occasion. That doesn’t even count all the April to mid-June Random Ramblings, which I have yet to post on my blog, because initially I only 'published' my entries via email. To commemorate the 100th milestone, here is my top 10 list from my 2010 postings. These aren’t in any particular order and they aren't necessarily the ones you replied to in droves, but they are among the ones I enjoyed writing the most. Thank you to all of you who have encouraged me to keep writing. - Scents that jog happy childhood moments - Writing with a perfect pen - Back-to-school shopping - When a new addition joins the family - The wonders of technol...

Why is it that when you long for something to happen you count sleeps (or dodos for the francophones among us)? Retailers may advertise X number of days until Christmas or some other over-commercialized holiday, but those businesses have it all wrong. When we are excited about an upcoming date, we count sleeps. After working in Nova Scotia for part of this week and riding out a storm, I get to head back to the Island for the weekend. The anticipation is delicious. Not only am I down to the last dodo, it’s the final one before I am welcomed home to drift off to sleep in my very own bed, safely tucked next to my Luv. AWESOME!

I’m not counting cases of mistaken identity, an obnoxious ma’am label or any derogatory names. And I say other than your given name, because I’m definitely not including when parents call out your full name, complete with strong emphasis on your middle and family names. That's just no fun at all. No, I’m thinking of the names that make you smile. Tell me you don’t get all warm and fuzzy when you hear a childhood nickname, a lover’s pet name or an endearing workplace handle. Aren’t you proud when you are called Auntie, Nana, Sweetie, Ma tante, Mom-mom, Cool Uncle Mike, Max, Mr. B., Cindy Lou Who? Sure! That’s what I’m talking about. [Token Gru-ism for the “Despicable Me” fans who read my blog.] Growing up, we had a few names that could be applied to any of us girls. For example, if we wriggled out of our swimsuits and streaked across the beach or through the house, we would be called Lady Godiva . Oddly enough, I cannot recall any of us ever riding bareback through town in n...

If it wasn’t for the importance of oral health, no one would willingly visit a dentist. Those visits are far from fun what with all the scraping, scaling, prodding, spraying, suctioning and maybe even a bit of lecturing on how often one should floss. Apart from fighting plaque, avoiding gum disease and preventing cavities, what makes a dental appointment worthwhile is that silky clean feeling after the hygienist finishes with your teeth. You can glide your tongue across those pearly whites and everything seems incredibly smooth and fresh. No cavities, a freebie toothbrush and floss, a toy (if you have a pediatric dentist), plus freshly polished teeth shifts the required six-month trip from the status of a chore to a small degree of AWESOME!

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Apart from die-hard collectors, most of us only see snow globes at Christmas time. It is amazing that a mini-scene and some glitter or snow pellets suspended in a liquid can make people of all ages smile. Have you ever tried to resist shaking or tipping one upside down? It’s tough, whether you’re four years old or eighty-seven. Sure, most snow globes are tacky and some even play cheesy tunes, but therein lies part of the charm. I’m not saying we should all start collecting snow globes, nor am I suggesting that I want to receive snow globes. Really, I have one and that suffices, thank you all the same. I just find it hilarious to watch how mesmerized people become when they pick up a snow globe, even though they already know what to expect from it. It’s as though the snow globes cast a certain kind of spell. And that spells A-W-E-S-O-M-E-! P.S. Anyone else ever make a snow globe with a glass baby food jar or a Mason jar and a hot glue gun? I recall making my own in Sunday scho...

Polar bear swims aren't for the faint of heart. Loved ones and gawking spectators may write you off as having snapped. They may worry and even try to talk you down off the ledge. Even still, on January 1st, people brave cold weather and chilly waters to take part in polar bear swims in Canada, the U.S. and Nordic countries. What is the attraction? Simply put, I'd have to say it is testing your mettle. These swims pose physical and psychological challenges, not the least of which is showing up in public in a bathing suit when you are at your palest, with a body you've subjected to far too many Christmas meals and treats. Overcoming the challenges and braving the frigid waters can be more than just a fresh way to start the year. Getting initiated into the exclusive polar bear swim club is a rewarding, invigorating and exhilarating adventure. The fact that a great friend took the chilly 2011 plunge with me and that my loving hubby snapped photos and served as a dev...