Lise's Ramblings

We tend to assume people will understand us whenever we speak or write. Yet, if you're unilingual and you choose to move or travel to countries where your mother tongue isn't spoken, you would find it arduous to communicate with others. To achieve even partial understanding, you may resort to gestures, scribbles, universal symbols and basic sounds. An extended stay would likely drive you to learn say key phrases in the other language. During fall 2011, my sign language instructors taught our class how much we take for granted the fundamental ability to communicate with ease. One of the instructors, who is both deaf and mute, shared her frustrations from not being "heard"  and understood. If there was ever a place where you would expect those around you to grasp what you want to communicate, it's within your own home. Sadly, her experience was quite the opposite. The same can be true for young children; they aren't always unde...

It's tough not to enjoy campfire or wood-stove embers? Entrancing colour and comforting warmth. You can prod and poke logs to make more bits tumble into the simmering pile of embers. And you're guaranteed that anything you roast over those embers will be        AWESOME!

In one of my earliest blog posts, I wrote about scents that jog childhood memories . Scents can conjure other reactions too. This entry is about how the intermingling of a few herbs and fruits can flick a switch in the brain instantly signaling the body to relax. In general, I experience adverse reactions to perfumes and strong smells, and yet, spa scents tend to quiet my busy mind, unfurl my brow  and release my tense shoulders. Spa scents don't overpower. They aren't musky either. Instead, they merely trigger a sense of calm to wash over you. That's the miracle of a hint of mint, a dash of rosemary, a splash of citrus oil, and subtle undertones of lavender. Soothing spa scents...       AWESOME! Do you find any specific scents relax you?  

Sure, we may joke about those As-seen-on-TV products, but sometimes gizmos prove to be handy. Whenever my grandfather found a new and functional gadget, he would give a bunch of them out to the family at Christmas. That’s how we came to own our first effortless can-opener and a Black & Decker Snakelight to shine light into awkward nooks. And back in the mid-1990s, I’m glad we listened to my grandparents about the value in having a bread maker. While I was away on a business trip my hubby purchased us a bread maker. That gizmo saw so much use that we had to replace parts, and eventually, invest in another bread maker. It’s possible that the gadget-loving gene runs in our family. When I went away to university, my Aunt Marion and Uncle Don gave me my first handheld immersion blender. I use that gizmo to this day. This past Christmas, my sister Dorothy bought a device that could turn almost anything into a speaker. Discovering a non-gimmicky, time-saving gizmo… ...

You may not even know how to cook, but certain recipes are alluring enough to make you don an apron and get busy in the kitchen. Maybe the recipe's title hooks you. Or, it’s the ingredient combo.  A tantalizing photo. An odd, but delightful twist (e.g., graham cracker crumbs rimming a martini glass)   Yummmmmmmmm. Scroll down this page for recipes and links. (photo sources: blog.mainefoodandlifestyle.com ; Eating Well magazine ; Good Life Eats blog )  Am I alone in being seduced by recipes? I doubt it.    Enticing recipes to tease and tempt…       AWESOME! The following three recipes stopped me in my tracks. The first and last aren’t in the least bit healthy, which explains why I first noticed them. (What’s strange is that I’m not even a cheesecake fan, yet these two have cheesecake in their titles.) My friend Shannon described the middle recipe to me as a healthier “vehicle” for my dill dip. Thank...

Studying in Montr é al gave me the chance to visit the Forum repeatedly and to walk where hockey heroes made NHL and bleu-blanc-et-rouge history (e.g., Maurice Richard, Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, Toe Blake, Jean B é liveau, Guy Lafleur, Jacques Plante, Yvan Cournoyer). Here on PEI , hockey players and golfers are used to seeing Sidney Crosby out and about, but this week, two hockey legends and national treasures graced our shores: Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr. I was fortunate to co-organize the event that drew the latter to PEI . Even as a longtime Habs fan, I must confess that I was awestruck by the celebrated Bruins defenceman. Bobby Orr earned so many important titles during his career, and it was refreshing to witness that he’s still a class act and inspires others to this day. Brushing shoulders with the real deal …       AWESOME! (Although admittedly, I will always associate #4 with 10-time Stanley Cup champion Jean B éliveau.) ...

No one will ever label me chic or stylish. My clothes and shoes fall apart before I stop wearing them. I get a haircut when my split ends take over. I brush my teeth, but don't bleach them. Friends and family buy me purses, so that I don't always walk around with a backpack. Similar story for jewelry. I keep the same eyeglass frames until they break or my prescription changes. And, by the time I find out about a swanky brand, that's a clear sign the name is no longer trendy. My idea of wearing make up is to apply my Burt's Bees lip balm that has a tinge of colour. If I'm going to work, I might even break out the mascara wand. Yes, the fashion police need an entire hard drive to store records of my crimes against fashion. While I'm a far cry from a fashionista, I recognize frump when I spot it. For example,this week I discretely snapped a photo of a dude ahead of me in line at Starbucks (see below); his scrunched-up collar ...

In " To be or not to be...dominant for centuries " I paid tribute to a literary great. Today's post celebrates the staying power of a rock-and-roll team: The Rolling Stones. Back in 1963, Mick Jagger figured The Rolling Stones wouldn't last more than a couple years. Considering the reckless lifestyle of band members, their larger-than-life personalities, and the excesses of the 1960s, it's surprising the bad boys of rock survived at all, let alone to play on for all these years. Fortunately for fans and artists alike, Mick was wrong; this summer marked the band's 50th anniversary. While the band's composition has shifted since the Rolling Stones took to the public stage at London's Marquee Club back on July 12, 1962, the talented frontmen, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, have remained at the core.  Shepard Fairey designed an anniversary version of the band's iconic logo (shown above). The original, created by John Pasche, easily ranks...

Do teachers still call out names in the school yard (or gym on rainy days) to group students by their new classes? Even if today's students discover teacher names and class lists online, I'm sure there are countless students praying hard to be paired in the same class as their BFF. Recently, my colleagues and I were divvied into two teams under newly appointed managers. In the weeks leading up to the announcement, I caught myself wishing to be grouped with friends. While I've gained better coping mechanisms since my elementary-school days, I'm amazed that similar emotions can creep up. Knowing you aren't facing the school year or the workplace alone...       AWESOME!