I am so Canadian in this regard. Our national broadcaster, CBC, has the best programming both on Television and radio, and online. Q features the most interesting interviews, with musicians, artists, pop culture and cultural icons, Tom Power is one of the best interviewers, he has a lovely approach, a warm Newfoundlander persona – he’s a musician and just became a new dad. He’s had this gig since 2016, and I’m a huge fan.
The podcast interviews are also posted on YouTube!
I started following this podcast a few years ago at the recommendation of a work friend.
The content was never as dramatic as it has been since the beginning of this year, with the new administration in the US. It’s like a miniseries now, with all the twists and turns in biotech, government, science and business. Informative and attainable.
I was a big fan of Smartless during Covid – I’ve find it less interesting these days, especially now that we have hilarious Amy Poehler with her own podcast. I love her, she’s great with guests, she would be an amazing BFF to hang out with.
WTF with Marc Maron – this OG of podcasts, wrapped up recently with the final interview with Barack Obama. A fitting bow on a masterpiece of 16 years of programming.
I’d read two of Canadian writer Miriam Toews’ books – the most famous one, Women Talking (upon which an award winning movie was made ) and Fight Night. I enjoyed both of them, Fight Night a little more. I wasn’t sure what to expect with A Truce that is not Peace.
This book is a memoir, written in a most unique, unusual fashion, that took me on various paths. Not chronologically written, it bounces around, back and forth, but I did not get lost. I found it fascinating, stream of consciousness writing, very emotional, and powerful. Incredible given the author’s background, and personal tragedies she has suffered (the loss of her father and older sister to suicide) — how she’s been able to navigate life, still be present for her kids and her grandchildren. It was at times so hilarious, and other times shocking. There is the mundane everyday life. And the heartbreak, especially in her use of letters and correspondence with her sister.
It all starts with the question that she is asked, as she is invited to speak at a literary conference. “Why do you write?” How does anyone answer that?
A very creative mind, and the result is this one-of-a-kind memoir. With the most perfect title.
A solid 4 stars. Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and the author for the ARC, it was a pleasure to read and review.
2. Comfortable walking weather – saw this cute kitty out just enjoying the soft sounds of the brooke in the trails in our neighbourhood.
3. Halloween – I mentioned in the post yesterday, we don’t get a lot of kids here as most are like ours and have grown up. I bought some candy to give out and had about 15 kids come around. The world series game 6 may have gotten in the way.
4. Renaissance, I find fall can be the start of new beginnings, changeovers. With new school years, with new season of TV shows, I used to look forward to fall as a kid too.
5. Cozy – it’s cooler so we can also start turning on our fireplace to get a bit toasty. Not so much into pumpkin latte, but do like pumpkin pie!
I’ve decided to do NaBloPoMo again this year – one blog post every day in November.
Accckkkkk! I’m already late for this important date! So this will be a 2-fer post. And I am showing myself some grace because – sob – the Blue Jays lost the World Series last night and I’m suffering a bit from Daylight Savings…(I know we gained an hour, but still).
Here are some highlights from my past week, Scattershot Sunday if you will…
1) Game 7 of the World Series, here in Toronto, the city and the country have been hyped seeing the Jays continuing to advance. When many said the Dodgers would take it in four games – the Jays would have none of it and brought the game back home. A heartbreaking nail biting loss to the LA Dodgers, after a crazy game that went to 11 innings. But what a team the Jays are, and bringing the country together during unprecedented times.
I remember going to the huge parade in 1992 when the Jays won the first of two consecutive World Series. It would have been so sweet for them to win again. And full disclosure, I am a bandwagon fan. The beauty of baseball is that it is straighforward enough to follow, and I even played as a kid in school. Not that anyone picked me for the team, I couldn’t hit very well but I could run.
Sigh… there won’t be a next year with this same group of guys, but at least we had the experience. And today is another day. Heartbreaking, but they showed so much heart!
2) I went to a retreat last weekend, spent a couple days focusing on me, and preparing my headspace for the week ahead. A small group of ladies, strangers when we started, but real connections afterwards. It was gorgeous up in Collingwood area…downtown and the arboretum below:
3) The week ahead entailed starting a new job! I’m back working fulltime now, adjusting to a hybrid model. I’ve been entirely remote based since 2019, so this is an adjustment. So far so good, the week went by super quickly and the people have been lovely.
Well, I missed the Saturday scattershot boat! Primarily because it was Thanksgiving holiday last weekend, my birthday happened and the biggest surprise of all – my son came from LA to surprise me! Because it is a big birthday, I intend to continue celebrating for a year!
This was the crudite platter I made to bring to the in-laws Thanksgiving lunch last Sunday. I surprise myself with whatever modicum of creativity I occasionally have.
We drove up north a bit to enjoy the fall colours. My son was especially excited because he misses fall, as the LA weather is consistently sunny and warm every single day. The lack of seasons will be an adjustment.
Our favourite tree, always takes longer to turn…
We then did a very touristy thing – my husband booked a Toronto Harbour tour. It was perfect weather, and a wonderful vantage point to take awesome pictures of the iconic skyline…
We had a lovely dinner at Alder in the Arc Hotel. It was absolutely delish! Had champagne, of course…
Then a couple of days later, my siblings took me and my Mom to Cafe Boulud for another BD dinner…another amazing evening…Seafood risotto!
The week went by quickly – I got up super early to take him to the airport this morning, and was witness to a pretty suburban sunrise.
With all that eating and drinking, I made sure not to miss too many of my workouts:
“Are these my traps?” I asked my husband. “Yup, those would be your traps – you look like a dancer”.
It’s 1979 England. Thirteen-year-old Vincent and his two brothers, are orphaned triplets, living in a children’s home together. They are cared for and monitored around the clock by different “mothers”. They take daily medication, learn from the “Book of Knowledge”, have nightmares recorded in the “Book of Dreams”, and when they do “bad things”, these events are documented in the “Book of Guilt”. Their house used to be filled with other orphans, many who seemingly did good things to manage to be sent to the utopian “Margate” , an amusement park-type of home. The boys are visited occasionally by an elderly doctor, kindly Dr. Roach, who checks in on them and coordinates their care with the mothers. The three seldom venture beyond their property, and the few times they have entered the village, they have been either avoided or treated with hostility by the villagers. They are different.
In a parallel story, a girl named Nancy is being raised by her parents, spoiled and sheltered, handled most preciously. She is never allowed outside, hasn’t met anyone else beyond her parents, and is asked to hide in a hidden part of her wardrobe, whenever anyone comes to the house.
What is the connection between the two? Something was not quite right in either of these settings.
This was a dystopian novel, and the further I read the more quickly I had to continue. The layers peeled away to reveal horrors and violence, in such sharp contrast to the childhoods that were initially cloaked in hazy innocence.
I was very much reminded of the novel “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro which I read almost 15 years ago. It gave me the same type of unsettling chill. I can’t describe more without spoilers.
A 4 star rating. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC in exchange for a review.
It’s the Thanksgiving long weekend here in Canada. The colour change of the leaves is not as far advanced as usual this year, probably. because summer temps did not break until late this past week. But I like the cooler weather – and the wasps are definitely gone now.
We went downtown again on Thursday to see the French synth band “Air”, playing their complete album “Moon Safari” which was released over 25 years ago. It was a great performance at the refurbished Massey Hall.
2. The Summer I Turned Pretty – the finale (last 2 episodes of Season 3)- I binged with my daughter last night. For the uninitiated, it was a series based on a book trilogy, about a love triangle made up of Isabella (Belly) and two brothers, the elder Conrad, the younger Jeremiah, who spent their summers together as kids, as their Moms were best friends. I was never really team Conrad, he was too sullen, too complicated. I became on Team Jer – but the character of Jer went through a transition, not in a good way. He went from a sweetheart to an annoying college bro. Not to spoil things, but Belly and Conrad ended up together -and now we have a movie to look forward to for the full blown ending.
My verdict? I was somewhat underwhelmed. The Paris settings were lovely though.
3. We went to my brother’s for Thanksgiving dinner – he made the turkey on the barbecue! I decided to bring a colourful salad, a recipe I found on the internet, full of Kale and sliced brussels sprouts, fried shallots, pickled onions, roasted salted almonds … a winner. There was a surprise birthday cake for me – I’ve got one coming up this week. It was nice to have time with family.
4. Golden – I feel like I’ve been living under a rock – I had no idea about this latest animated super popular movie on Netflix, K Pop Demon Hunters,
Oh, I’m done hidin’, now I’m shining like I’m born to be Oh, our time, no fears, no lies That’s who we’re born to be
Great lyrics, I love that it’s popular with young girls. EJAE’s story is particularly inspirational. Talented young Asian women.
5. The Blue Jays won over the New York Yankees and are now on their way to the ALCS! This is the furthest they’ve been since 1996. Big game coming up tomorrow as they face the Seattle Mariners. How awesome would another World Series Win be? I know, one step at a time!
6. Sad news – Diane Keaton. She was such a wonderful actress – and a real movie star. I can’t believe she passed, she seemed eternally youthful.
7. Another family get together planned tomorrow. While I love having the family celebrations, I miss having my boy here this year.
At a time 
Three Things Thursday -Podcasts
So many podcasts, so little time. Here are three that I keep on rotation:
I am so Canadian in this regard. Our national broadcaster, CBC, has the best programming both on Television and radio, and online. Q features the most interesting interviews, with musicians, artists, pop culture and cultural icons, Tom Power is one of the best interviewers, he has a lovely approach, a warm Newfoundlander persona – he’s a musician and just became a new dad. He’s had this gig since 2016, and I’m a huge fan.
The podcast interviews are also posted on YouTube!
2. The Readout Loud
I started following this podcast a few years ago at the recommendation of a work friend.
The content was never as dramatic as it has been since the beginning of this year, with the new administration in the US. It’s like a miniseries now, with all the twists and turns in biotech, government, science and business. Informative and attainable.
3. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
I was a big fan of Smartless during Covid – I’ve find it less interesting these days, especially now that we have hilarious Amy Poehler with her own podcast. I love her, she’s great with guests, she would be an amazing BFF to hang out with.
Also on YouTube! Her interview with Mariska Hargitay was such fun!
Honorable mentions:
WTF with Marc Maron – this OG of podcasts, wrapped up recently with the final interview with Barack Obama. A fitting bow on a masterpiece of 16 years of programming.
Mel Robbins Podcast – for some real inspiration and pick me ups.
Any recommendations? What do you listen to would love to know!