The other night I rewatched Ron Howard’s iconic movie American Graffiti which perfectly captured what life was like for teenagers on a Friday night in the early sixties. Every time I see that movie I can connect each one of the characters with someone I knew and grew up with in real life. We all knew a Steve and Laurie (played by Ron Howard and…
Coco Chanel slept with the enemy and got away with it
After reading Sleeping With The Enemy, Coco Chanel’s Secret War by Hal Vaughan I’m tempted to never buy another Chanel product again. Not a lipstick, a nail polish, or fragrance. Obviously my boycott would have absolutely no impact on the company’s overall wealth and market penetration, and Chanel herself is dead so my concerns are moot. Besides, I love the brand so that would only penalize…
I’ve been conducting a few COVID-19 scientific domestic experiments of my own
The world’s greatest scientists aren’t the only ones conducting experiments related to the current pandemic. Having been housebound for nigh-on two months now with the man I love (surprisingly, I still do!) and my little dog (whom I surprisingly, have not yet eaten), I’ve been carrying out a few highly scientific experiments of my own. While my friend Terry has discovered it takes two to…
Cynthia Loyst from CTV’s The Social gives pleasure
When I first heard that Cynthia Loyst from CTV’s The Social was publishing a book about how to bring more pleasure into our lives, I was reluctant to read it. As a regular follower of the TV show, I thought I had a pretty good handle on her philosophy of life and wondered what more could possibly be said. But I was wrong. Having now…
He turned my cellphone lemon into lemonade
You may find this shocking and impossible to believe, but I rarely use my cell phone. I have no burning desire to be in constant contact with the people in my life every minute of the day, nor am I interested in posting pictures on FaceBook or Instagram of what I had for lunch or the colour of my latest pedicure. Therefore, it came as…
Four cheers for Elizabeth Strout’s Burgess boys
Having now finished my fourth Elizabeth Strout novel, The Burgess Boys, it’s obvious why she’s a New York Times best-selling author and has won so many awards, including a Pulitzer for fiction. The lady can write. She captures small-town life so perfectly and we find ourselves rooting for her characters despite their flaws and dark sides. After all, we’re all flawed and we can relate to the…