I published my take on ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas in 2012. As we head into a short holiday break, I decided to rerun it because a) I still believe in the message (LOL) and b) when I was a kid, I wrote poetry all the time. Family and friends got poems in their Christmas and Birthday cards. I think I could have been Weird Alina if I’d put my mind to it. Anyway, please enjoy and we shall reconvene here in 2024!
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We have few people to buy gifts for this Christmas. No parents. The honorary grandkids want gift cards. I made a deal with my brother. We told each other about something we want but haven’t bought for ourselves. That’s how I know I’m getting a bonsai tree and a growing kit!
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We sometimes buy things from Amazon. I shop at a couple of online grocers who carry specialty items I can’t get from anyone near me. We are not perfect beings and I despise helping a billionaire like Jeff Bezos get richer. But Amazon didn’t become the monolith it is without doing a few things right.
…What the Dickens is Up With Small Business SaturdayRead More »
There are few things I know for sure. And now, after reading a newsletter from my local garden centre, there’s one less thing.
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I’ve been truly gobsmacked over the sheer number of comments here and on social media about my alcoholism post. It amazes me that people respond so generously to an honest revelation about something that, not so long ago, brought me feelings of shame. But it’s when we reveal our flaws that we give others permission to do the same. We ought to learn this stuff in school. So, thank you for sharing your experiences and simply for being kind.
…The big day is drawing near! The day after the original social-distancer, one Mr. S. Claus, sneaks in during the night as we sleep.
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Wherever you look this festive season my little glitter lickers, you’ll see cats being incorporated into the holidays. Where once a cat-lover dared not admit their allegiance in public, now it’s all about the fab tabby. We have truly arrived!
…Everyone’s looking for some comfort right now. Whether it’s the American election and its (bloody ridiculous) aftermath, the Coronavirus and subsequent restrictions and their impact on businesses and livelihoods – we all seem to be feeling extra stress right now.
……“There is nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.” Erma Bombeck
Between the huge Christmas Eve gathering in Melbourne and the small but mighty Christmas Day gathering here in Wallaceburg, 2018 will go down as memorable.
…As we celebrate – in a row – our ninth anniversary, Derek’s birthday and Christmas, I’m bathed in gratitude.
…As we settle into our new home, we will continue our (relatively new) tradition of gathering ’round the palm-Christmas-tree.
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It’s natural to think about those we’ve lost at this time of year. Yesterday, the great Penny Marshall joined the long list of people who left us in 2018. We think of our dear friend Kerry. Mike Cooper’s wonderful wife Debbie. Our warm and lovable colleague, Jodi. And my Dad’s been in my thoughts more than usual, now a year-and-a-half after he died.
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We were delighted that we’d be living in Wallaceburg by the time an art and music event was scheduled to take place at the town’s museum.
…The highlights of the holidays come down to creating happiness for those around you. Don’t you find that your heart fills up when there’s laughter and the clinking of forks on plates? …
2017 has nothing to apologize for. It’s not the year’s fault that we lost my father in it. That blame goes to Parkinson’s Disease which robbed us of him even before it took his life. This is our first Christmas without Dad. …
