Tag Archives: Humor

Feb8

Why Enrol in Blogging 101?

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Why Enrol in Blogging 101?

Why Did I Start Blogging?

Everyone enrolled in BLOGGING 101 will have different reasons for getting a blog underway. I am a purposeful retired educator/administrator who found that I was unprepared for “retirement”.  What did I do?  I wrote a middle years series of  3 humorous novels, entitled the Frenchie Series (Frenchie referring to French Bulldogs). Interesting, the MG novels are about a 13 year old boy who blogs each night to all the Frenchie lovers… Most of all, the writing kept me engaged and excited about creating something that I hoped families would get some chuckles from reading.  As well, it kept me learning new skills, such as setting up an author platform and coordinating one’s promotion and marketing … Read the rest

Jul29

EMBRACING (SERIOUSLY?) OLD AGE SECURITY

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EMBRACING (SERIOUSLY?) OLD AGE SECURITY

We all know someone who appears to have embraced their senior years in stride.(AM I KIDDING?) Rather, most of us are acquainted with those who approach the “DARK SIDE” kicking and panicked. My sister-in-law was in total disbelief that she qualified as an OAS (Old Age Security) recipient. YEP-she’s a SENIOR CITIZEN! She never ever expected her 65th birthday would actually arrive… DUH!

What do you do to help distract this loved one, who is hyperventilating over her BIG DAY? I know! You plan a surprise girls party for her the night before. Imagine not allowing her the time to perseverate about aging as she reaches that midnight pinnacle to the “OTHER SIDE”. Sounds easy, right? Just … Read the rest

Jul22

Summertime is Book Time- Amazon Says So!

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Summertime is Book Time- Amazon Says So!

I know you’ve checked out some SUMMER READS on Amazon and noticed their banner at the bottom of each book ad, “Summertime is Book Time”. Summer is a perfect time to chill and have a stock of books/ebooks on hand to read. That’s why I’m making FRENCHIE X2- Follow the Blog (the ebook) available to you FREE over a 5 day period.

You’ve already read BOOK #1 of the Frenchie Series – FRENCHIE’S BEST FRIEND- Follow the Blog, so don’t hesitate to read BOOK #2 and share the link to anyone who loves pets, belly laughs, relates to teenage angst, and the family drama of divorced and extended families.

From July 22nd-26th, go to http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007BG2ETG or in Canada, … Read the rest

Aug26

OKANAGAN TWEENS READ

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OKANAGAN TWEENS READ

PeachfestKiddieParade

Okanagan TWEENS are readers. The  THE CHILDREN’S PARADE at PEACH FEST  this summer highlighted the array of wonderful, rich stories and novels that Canadian authors have currently published. This picture of TWEENS sharing my 3 Frenchie novels in the KIDS PARADE, made me realize that there are so many Middle Grade readers (ages 9-13) who don’t even know that these titles are available in paperback or ebook format. Red Tuque Books distribute the paperbacks of the three novels in the series in Canada. Just click on: http://www.redtuquebooks.ca

Amazon Stores/Book Links

You only have to click on the country you live and you will have access to Kindle formats or paperback of Frenchie Diva (Book #3) If you want Book #1 … Read the rest

Jul22

MENOPAUSAL TRAVELERS SLEEP DEPRIVED IN EUROPE

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MENOPAUSAL TRAVELERS SLEEP DEPRIVED IN EUROPE

You know you’re sleep-deprived when you’ve sat up the entire 9.5 hour night flight in an economy class seat. The two TYPE A travelers would have coped if they hadn’t started their journey with a 5:00 alarm to make a ferry connection first. And no one sleeps well when relying on one’s alarms going off, right? Certainly, arriving at the airport too early for one’s flight and hanging out in the airport for a number of hours, made for an endless day, before even taking off! … And so their story began.

The real fun started when arriving at one’s destination after being awake for 30 hours. Operating in a fuzzy, brain dead state, it only made sense we’d … Read the rest

Jul16

SUITCASE TRAVEL NIGHTMARES IN EUROPE

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SUITCASE TRAVEL NIGHTMARES IN EUROPE

DISCLAIMER: My travel partner has given me permission to divulge some of the more colourful journeys our overweight suitcases went on during our somewhat muscle agonizing adventure.

One has to ask, where were you when I posted my PACKING DILEMMA before flying to Europe? Someone needed to set me straight – BUT NOOOOO- you didn’t comment. I’m almost certain I would have listened…

Prior to embarking on our BIG ADVENTURE, my traveling partner and I talked almost daily for months about what we’d take (not what we SHOULD take). She’d tour my packing progress, and I’d check out her continuously changing clothing piles spread out in her spare bedroom. Our biggest decision we agonized over for weeks was what outfit … Read the rest

May17

Sail Past … KNOT!

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Sail Past … KNOT!

It’s spring and sailing is in the air! The “CAPTAIN“ has been preoccupied with preparations for a sailing trip circumnavigating Vancouver Island. Of course he has!  The pristine 40 foot Beneteau that he and two other “CAPTAINS” will sail at month’s end takes priority. Needless to say, our adequate 28 foot Catalina has been left somewhat neglected in the wake of all the prepping and planning frenzy.

When you belong to a YACHT CLUB, there is always an annual SAIL PAST.  For all of you non-boaters, this means that yacht club members board their boats and do a SAIL PAST to salute their club’s COMMODORE bobbing in her vessel out on the ocean.  … Read the rest

May6

SECOND HONEYMOON? YOU JEST!

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SECOND HONEYMOON? YOU JEST!

I can’t stop chuckling, as I review some of our Caribbean Cruise holiday pictures that were taken back in February.  We had arrived at our last port, Key West, early in the morning.  It was a brilliant sunny day and I had awoken charged, anticipating a romantic walk down memory lane with my husband of 15 years.  That’s right, we had eloped down to Key West (I joined him from Vancouver and he met me from Toronto.) during March Spring Break.  I visualized us leisurely strolling arm-in-arm through the town, reminiscing about our wedding day (City Hall- oh, so quaint! NOT!), the ocean deck/beach for our wedding photos shoot (People hanging over the deck as we waded through the … Read the rest

Mar18

MENOPAUSAL SLEEP INTERRUPTED

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MENOPAUSAL SLEEP INTERRUPTED

child bookcaseThe benefits of getting the appropriate number of hours of zzz’s is getting ample air time these days.  If it’s not news reports, it’s articles written in newspapers or magazines.  Most of these studies are related to the needs of children and the career crowd below “FREEDOME 55”.  What is NEVER mentioned or commented upon is the menopausal woman’s angst over sleep deprivation.

That’s right people, we women who have raised families, worked incessantly throughout our careers, and are just settling into our blissful stage of relaxing retirement, are probably the most sleep deprived age group of all. It’s true! Regardless of our ability to call our own shots regarding our waking hours versus snoozing hours, we can’t get … Read the rest

Mar10

MOUSE CSI

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MOUSE CSI

After returning from a relaxing Caribbean Cruise to their pristine NW Pacific home following a cold snap; there was an unwelcome surprise awaiting Mary, and it wasn’t a belated birthday gift, either!

In the flurry of getting home after five weeks away, there was the unpacking, laundry, calls, food shopping, and all, to address. The fact that husband Ryan noticed some evidence of mice activity in the garage, didn’t phase her one bit.  That’s the GARAGE, right? WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

By the third day of their return, husband Ryan headed back to Vancouver for a work day on an insanely early ferry.  Retired Mary snuggled deeper under the covers and emerged from the bedroom – somewhat later.

Turning the corner … Read the rest