Occasional musings from a Left-coast Canadian ExPat in Oxford.
A couple things seem to take over the brief attention span of the internets every November. First is NaNoWriMo and its ADD cousin, NaBloPoMo. I happened to blog yesterday, so perhaps I shall just keep with it, yes? We’ll see if it lasts until the end of the month. Second is Movember. For the past … Continue reading NaBloPoMovember
Did you know it’s Fire Prevention Week? Me neither. I do recall an early-school-year project from my elementary days when we all made “escape plans” for our homes and learned to “stop, drop and roll” our way out of suddenly bursting into flames. But I hadn’t thought about fire prevention for many years, until I … Continue reading Fire Prevention Week
Those playing along at home are likely going “Huh? I had no idea you WERE moving.” I know. And now we’re not. Not exactly news, but it’s been a big albatross around my neck for a little while. Now that there’s an ending to the story, I feel compelled to write it down – both … Continue reading We’re not moving
Apropos of absolutely nothing, a Freddie Mercury Merman Christmas Tree Ornament. Enjoy! Continue reading 1000 Words
I never know how to pick this thing back up. When I’ve meant to write a post for a while, promised at the next thing to come, then completely drop the ball on delivering, I have no idea what to write next. Do I continue on as if I didn’t just drop off the face … Continue reading Errrr….. hi?
We are home, mostly recovered from the jetlag, and almost done sorting through the pictures. I shall have vacation tales for you soon! In the meantime, it looks like an amazing music video was released right around the time we got back. OK GO produced a 2nd video for their single This Too Shall Pass, … Continue reading What a Rube
Was having a conversation with a friend the other day about street food (specifically kebab/donair/shwarma), which eventually lead to discussing how to pronounce “gyro” – is it hero or jai-row? Of course it’s hero, but most North Americans start out calling it a jai-row until corrected. By that time of course the word gyro is … Continue reading Holding Out
I got some email today from YouTube, stating that a couple old videos of mine (Eating Live Octopus in Korea) are popular enough qualify for their affiliate program (they put ads on my video, I collect a few pennies a year). Comments on the videos (mostly “ewww!”) come through every now and again, but I … Continue reading Jen Eats Something Strange – Episode 1
It’s coming up to the time now when charitable campaigns are making their big annual pledge drives. I’m starting to get solicitations in my mail, email, and seeing banners around town announcing that the season for giving is imminent. Hessie also had a post recently about how she’s changing how she gives this year, and … Continue reading Give a little bit
Best part of getting frozen goods with our grocery delivery? They’re packed with dry ice 🙂 Continue reading Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
This really isn’t indicative of me as a person – generally I’m pretty upbeat and cheery. However, I often have these fleeting dark and twisted thoughts. Mostly ideas that occur to me, that the little voice inside says “people will think you are awfully troubled if you share that.” I had another one while driving … Continue reading The Darkness
… I do not think it means what you think it means! I’m talking about Sustainability. The latest in a long series of buzzwords that’s been appropriated to make people feel better about their choices – not the first, and certainly not the last. But definitely the one I find most annoying right now. sus·tain·a·ble … Continue reading You Keep Using that Word
I succumbed to the siren’s song of the Egg McMuffin the other day, and as I was waiting in the drive-through, I zoned out staring at the soft-drink dispensing machine. Coke. McDonald’s and Coca Cola have been happy bedfellows for as long as I can remember. And I started thinking about the relationships between fast-food … Continue reading Coke vs. Pepsi: influencing preference
I always get to a point in the late summer when I’m much more interested in being out and about than in front of the computer. So until I feel like posting again, which doesn’t feel like it will be particularly soon, I leave you with a picture, from Derek, of racing pigs at the … Continue reading Summer Lovin’; Lovin’ Summer
A few years ago I volunteered with Junior Achievement BC, leading the A Business of Our Own program for a grade 6 class. One of the units in the program is to guide the students through thinking about how to market the class business (in this case, chocolate sales to fund their class trip) and … Continue reading I want a hippopotamus!