I learned some sad news today. Sophie Kinsella, author of the Shopaholic series of Chick-lit, passed away.
I read “Confessions of a Shopaholic” when it came out in 2001. It was such a fun read, I was hooked, and promptly flew through the next few of the series, and another fun one outside of the series called “Can you Keep a Secret”.
Her books provided some wonderful moments for me when my son was young, when I had the time, just wanting to have a break from daily grind of being a working mom. By the time they made the movie based on her first book, I didn’t appreciate it as much (although Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy are very adorable)
I moved on from her books as I got older, but in 2024 heard about her dealing with glioblastoma, and read her book “What does it feel like” (my review in the link) which seemed autobiographical, about a famous writer dealing with cancer. It was poignant, as I thought about what she was going through, writing about it while she was battling her illness.
Although glioblastoma is a devastating cancer, she seemed to have survived beyond the typical prognosis, but still … she was only 55, an accomplished writer, wife, and importantly a mother of 5.
Something new that my kids introduced me to – my 2025 Apple Replay – guess everything is being tracked, and although fairly accurate, I only listen to Apple in my car. So I suppose these are great driving songs. Let the music play…
I see a common theme here – GIRLS!
Beaches …
The Beaches … (so happy that these local girls are having a moment, after some tough years, they are now hitting the stratosphere!)
And of course, the return of the OG of Girlpower – Sarah – what a great album. She’s better than ever.
It really feels like December today. Got my cozy socks and pyjamas on; sitting by the (fake) fire, ready to take in a good movie. The Christmas holidays are a few short weeks away.
No mantle this year, though. We usually hang stockings, so this year we’ll have to be creative.
Christmas decorations will be pulled from storage, and I plan to start decorating this weekend.
It’s the last day of November, and with this latest snowfall, the winter season is here to stay.
Change of season, life changes, change is a constant.
We had a neighbourhood couple over for dinner last night, with whom we have become very friendly through our kids. We come from such different backgrounds, but having the shared experience of living in this community for so many years, it’s always enjoyable spending time with them. We’re at the same stage in life, with adult kids, one grown and flown, the younger ones still in school. Empty-nesters-ish. They’re actually a few years younger than we are.
It seems our neighbourhood is changing in that direction too – fewer school-aged kids are around us, the school bus no longer stops in front where a bunch of kids, ours included, used to hop on. During Halloween, we got only a handful of trick-or-treaters, which has been the case for the last few years. The demographics seem to have cycled back to when we moved in – there weren’t many kids on our street at the time, mostly empty-nesters, our next-door neighbours on either side had young adult kids.
Our friends were curious to know about my transition back to working full-time again, as they’re looking in the opposite direction. Planning longer-term travel, relaxation, and focusing more on themselves. We have those things in sight for ourselves, too, but it’s a bit more complicated for us. I’m actually getting energized in a way that I haven’t been for a while. My husband is enjoying his teaching gig. We’re buying furniture, as we did as newlyweds, to replace dated pieces that are totally out of place after the renovation we did earlier this year. There are still upgrades we would like to do with our place; we don’t even know where we would move to if/when we downsize.
Retirement these days is not the same as it was in my parents’ generation. At my age, my Dad had already been retired for 6 years, and my mom for about 5. At their retirement ages, I was starting a new job; six years later, here we go again. I have other friends who have retired from their conventional jobs and careers, but are taking on different projects, being on volunteer boards, keeping extremely busy doing things they want to do rather than what they have had to do.
So on this last post of NaBloPoMo 2025, I remain contemplative.
A day at a time, a glass (of non alcoholic variety these days … more about that in a bit) … at a time.
For a classic ISTJ, as hard it typically would be for me to not have more of a plan in place, I’m actually ok with it.
What is the perfect amount of stress, I’d like to know?
We all need some, it’s a prime motivator, gets me off my tush, makes me think – but what is the optimal intensity? I struggle a bit with that, going from zero to hero, I guess I’m grappling with my self-expectations.
I look at my 88 year old mother – talk about intensity! In the big picture, it is a really good thing – we are fortunate, she has enough energy to rule her life and the lives of all three of her adult children and their families. I don’t know how she does it seemingly stress-free.
****
People – I have a cold! And a stupid, vicious cough – it comes at me once every few years, and it lingers. It started last week, I thought I got over it, but then I didn’t as it kept cropping up during my meetings – in-person meetings – yes, thank you, super spreader !(Headsmacking here).
Worst part, I have not had the energy to go to the gym -Boooooo!
***
I have had time to watch some TV, though. Some pretty good TV.
The Beast in Me – starring Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys – stellar actors in this psychological thriller on Netflix. Claire was doing her Claire quivering chin thing, but the panic for her character made sense. And Matthew Rhys – he is absolutely riveting. Borderline caricature evil, but it worked for me.
I haven’t seen a lot of his acting, but I did enjoy it when he was one of the co-hosts of the Wine show with the other Matthew (Goode) about ten years ago- and he seems a laugh riot in real life ( on several podcast interviews). And he must be a great guy, I mean, he’s the partner of one of my favourites, Kerri Russell.
Kevin Hart’s new comedy show “Acting My Age” launched on Netflix. I enjoy his movies, but haven’t watched one of his stand up shows. He is such a hoot in this one – some of it was cringe (the bit about his wife and big d*ck medicine went on rather long), but I could relate with all his lamenting about the ails of aging. His description of slipping in the shower, and falling down stairs, had me laughing out loud and crying. Don’t even get me started about his his story of his family vacation to Rwanda to see gorillas.
***
We went furniture shopping today. In the 80,000 square foot showroom, it was easy to be overwhelmed. So we had to have lunch at the in-store cafe to decide. And some champagne. Black Friday sales brought us here. So civilized.
Hah, what a video! Great tune, brings back memories.
This song came out over 9 years ago – and was featured in a Bodyjam release, just as I was transitioning from full time work, to working from home for myself. Every time we danced to this track at the gym, I had to smile. Not realizing what a risque video it was (I didn’t follow videos at the time…not top of mind for me when both kids were tween and teen), . It seems so funny and awkward to feature on my blog today. Lots of eye candy for boys and girls.
Well, the season is coming up very soon – Holiday Movies!!! I always watch a least a couple of Hallmark movies with my daughter. There’s something cozy and comforting about those formula movies. So there will be some of those in our upcoming Christmas season viewing.
We will, of course, watch some of the following more popular, traditional, and classic movies, and some not as well known:
1/ It’s a Wonderful Life
2/ White Christmas
3/ Home Alone
4/ Home Alone 2
5/ Elf
6/ Christmas with the Kranks
7/Love Actually
8/ The Holiday
9/ Family Man. ( a special one, this came out the year our son was born)
Oh my, these guys were so beautiful. When this song and video came out, it solidified my absolute love crush on John Taylor – that lush euro mullet with the bangs that brushed his brows just so. I would play the video over and over. I think I had taped the video on VHS one time when it showed up on MTV, so I could rewind and play on repeat, memorizing the lyrics. Nonsensical lyrics, but no matter. It looked like it had something to do with a revolution. It was one of my favourite songs on the album “Seven and the Ragged Tiger”.
They still look pretty good these days, and they are still touring. We’ve seen them twice over the years. Their concerts never disappoint. They may have gotten even better with age. The song has such a distinctive baseline – so aside from being such a gorgeous man, it turns out that John Taylor is quite the talented bass guitar player. Self taught (yes I read his autobiography, In the Pleasure Groove, which came out in 2012, yes, I was still a fangirl in my 40s).
Concert ticket prices are astronomical, but it may be worth a three-peat if they ever come into town again.
At a time 
Change – NaBloPoMo finish line
It’s the last day of November, and with this latest snowfall, the winter season is here to stay.
Change of season, life changes, change is a constant.
We had a neighbourhood couple over for dinner last night, with whom we have become very friendly through our kids. We come from such different backgrounds, but having the shared experience of living in this community for so many years, it’s always enjoyable spending time with them. We’re at the same stage in life, with adult kids, one grown and flown, the younger ones still in school. Empty-nesters-ish. They’re actually a few years younger than we are.
It seems our neighbourhood is changing in that direction too – fewer school-aged kids are around us, the school bus no longer stops in front where a bunch of kids, ours included, used to hop on. During Halloween, we got only a handful of trick-or-treaters, which has been the case for the last few years. The demographics seem to have cycled back to when we moved in – there weren’t many kids on our street at the time, mostly empty-nesters, our next-door neighbours on either side had young adult kids.
Our friends were curious to know about my transition back to working full-time again, as they’re looking in the opposite direction. Planning longer-term travel, relaxation, and focusing more on themselves. We have those things in sight for ourselves, too, but it’s a bit more complicated for us. I’m actually getting energized in a way that I haven’t been for a while. My husband is enjoying his teaching gig. We’re buying furniture, as we did as newlyweds, to replace dated pieces that are totally out of place after the renovation we did earlier this year. There are still upgrades we would like to do with our place; we don’t even know where we would move to if/when we downsize.
Retirement these days is not the same as it was in my parents’ generation. At my age, my Dad had already been retired for 6 years, and my mom for about 5. At their retirement ages, I was starting a new job; six years later, here we go again. I have other friends who have retired from their conventional jobs and careers, but are taking on different projects, being on volunteer boards, keeping extremely busy doing things they want to do rather than what they have had to do.
So on this last post of NaBloPoMo 2025, I remain contemplative.
A day at a time, a glass (of non alcoholic variety these days … more about that in a bit) … at a time.
For a classic ISTJ, as hard it typically would be for me to not have more of a plan in place, I’m actually ok with it.