Lise's Ramblings

Statistics Canada reports that Canadian commuters spend an average of 52 minutes daily traveling roundtrip to work. In major centres such as Montreal and Toronto, more than a quarter of Canadians spend at least 1.5 hours commuting back and forth every weekday. Ugh. Commute times grow when you add one or more of the following: construction, bad weather, police spot-checks, a sinkhole, an accident or long-weekend crowds.  Any wonder the international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) rates shorter commute times as a key variable in studies of health and quality of life.  There just aren't many upsides to long commutes, apart from time to listen to podcasts, music or audio books. Sure, dozing, reading, writing and other activities are possible when public transportation is available, but still you aren't spared from delays and lengthy travel times.  I'm grateful for my short d...

I’ve blogged about traditions relating to Easter and birthdays , but never about those from the most festive time of year. Growing up in my family, Christmas was about so much more than gifts. Now ours wasn’t a Grinch-like existence. There were presents. I’m not saying, “it came without ribbons…it came without tags…it came without packages, boxes or bags!” It's just that "Maybe Christmas...doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more."  Years later, I was thrilled to meet Canada's Prima Ballerina while volunteering at a Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation fundraiser at the National Arts Centre.    I can tell you that a few gifts stood apart; however, my strongest positive Christmas associations are that the season was marked by family visits and our festive rituals. There were many, but four traditions stand out clearest in my mind and heart. Attending the Christmas pantomime. Year after year, we would get d...

Sniff, sniff, sniff. Who hasn’t been lured to a mall food court by scents wafting from a Cinnabon? Even if you don’t cave, that sugar-and-spice combo causes your nose to perk up. Cinnamon donuts (mini-beignes) and cinnamon rolls at farmers’ markets and mom-and-pop bakeries are that much more enticing. You fool yourself into thinking the treats are somehow wholesome, because of where you buy them. Then, since they’re small and delicious, you wolf down far more than you should.  Source: BeaverTails media kit www.beavertailsinc.com  Well it takes a whole other level of self-restraint to resist BeaverTails ―a.k.a. Queues de castor―in Ottawa , Halifax, Vancouver and other Canadian cities. That smell of warm cinnamon causes even the healthiest people to crave a cinnamon, sugar, dough and butter delicacy. You’re even more likely to give in to those BeaverTails when you smell them late at night and if you’ve been out drinking. Come to think of it, I ate my last Beaver...