Quof

That's because women are always defined by their family status. A young woman was murdered in our community recently, and every news headline says "mother killed" or "missing mother's body found". Such a headline about my life would read "childless spinster," instead of "adventurous, accomplished professional".

Surely there's a difference between basic medical coverage, and dental coverage? Even in Canada, where everyone (broad strokes generalization here) has access to free medical care, people still have to pay for dental care except for some basic preventative dental care for children. Most employed people have private dental coverage through their employer. Even if Derrick maintained some medical coverage, and his dental surgery was a "medical necessity" rather than cosmetic dentistry, wouldn't at least some of his follow up orthodontic treatment be considered dental, and therefore not covered?

Agree Ina's tzatziki is the bomb.

Miranda with Jack Whitehall and Adele was one of the best episodes, until they brought on the stupid Kate and William lookalikes. Come to think of it, another favourite was Jack with Harrison Ford and Benedict Cumberbatch. Can we have Jack on every episode too??

Their parents' dysfunctional relationship is part of their personal lives. In another year or so Mason will be in school. Should he have to put up with his classmates, or their parents, having a direct view of the lunacy that goes on in his house?

And this is why I have no patience with people with food "issues" short of an actual allergy. What it really means is "I eat what I like, invent a label for the things I don't like, and expect people to cater to it." I eat what I like, politely decline those things I don't like, and keep my lifestyle choices to myself.

Today's pet peeve - tourists. Sorry, luv ya, please come here and spend your money, BUT .... don't be so damned annoying. A family of American tourists were ahead of me at a roadside ice cream stand. The weather is finally nice, the line was growing longer by the minute, and the two teen girls working were doing their best to keep and remain cheerful. They took forever to make their selections, then the father handed the girl an American bill. "You take American money, don't you?" "Um, yes." "What's the exchange rate?" "Par." "Par? Par? But it's worth more. You're ripping me off!!" Eventually he gave up and paid, probably because ice cream was running down his arm. First of all, you're in our country. Coin of the realm, buddy. Secondly, we are hundreds of miles from the American border. You clearly didn't just pop over the border for a quick visit. Did you not bother to get any currency for the country you're visiting? Thirdly, it's an ice cream stand, not a bank. SMH

You are a glutton (gluten???) for punishment. With a group that size, with so many food restrictions, I would hand everyone an apple and a glass of water.

4 feet of snow in less than 3 days, followed by ice pellets. Bite me!!! : )

Sheets back on the bed, focaccia out of the oven, and the sun has returned, so I'm on the road. Looking for some fresh, warm tomatoes straight off the vine to make sandwiches with the focaccia.

Good moms don't put their kids' private lives on television.

parking brake brake brake Sorry, had to do that.

The weather is not co-operating today, I was up early to wash the bedclothes and hang them on the line because the forecast was for a sunny day. Then my plan was to go for a nice "Sunday Drive" to find some produce and an ice cream. Instead, it looks like rain is imminent and I am ready to rush outside to bring in the sheets. In the meantime, I have an avocado focaccia on its second rise. Avocado right in the dough, it's soft and squishy just how I like my focaccia dough.

I'm in Canada, my father was a mechanic, and taught me to turn off everything that would draw power when starting the engine.

But it's an extra demand on the battery when you start the car, especially in cold weather. Turn them off.

I don't remember it ever being so uniform. I can't tell you the last time I saw a teen girl's neck, or even shoulders. Long, stringy hair is not a good look for everyone, yet they all do it.

I used to date a guy whose nose had clearly been broken in childhood and not set properly. He often told the story of how he, as a toddler, climbed up on the kitchen counter to get a cookie, fell, and broke his nose. His older sister was present once when he told the story and said "Good god, do you still believe that story? Let me tell you what really happened. I hated you. So I dropped you on your face."

Doesn't Home Depot have the "If you need help, push this button" which allows you to call a salesperson? Or was I in another store when I saw it? Must admit, I hate hardware stores so I try to avoid them. You Americans don't know the annoyance that is trying to find something in a Canadian Tire store.

Peeve of the day - teenage girls. I had errands to run this morning, so spent some time in the local mall. Why do they all look the same - the long, straight hair, the skinny jeans or leggings, and the skinny, anemic look? I want to say "Eat a sandwich, then maybe you would have the energy to lift your feet instead of scuffing your damned flip flops."

Our local Lebanese festival is this weekend, so I stopped in for lunch to get a some lamb shawarma. It's noon of their second day, and they are out of lamb, with no more to come. So I had the chicken, which was pretty tasty, but it was no lamb. I have leftovers, with the side dishes, for dinner.

I always turn off the radio, and the heat, before turning off the car. (I also turn off the lights, because I always drive with the headlights on). It's a drain on the battery to start the engine with these secondary functions at the same time. At least that's what I was taught when I learned to drive a million years ago, presumably cars are more efficient now. But it's a good habit to get into.

Ah, the telephone help line Pet Peeves. How about when I call, spend several minutes with someone who can't fix my problem, then they transfer me to someone else, and I have to tell the whole story again. Then that person can't help and I ask for a supervisor, and I have to tell them the whole story. I've now taken to saying "Before transferring me, I want you to tell them everything we have already done because I'm not telling the story again."

We didn't have roller service, but we did have drive-ins with car service. Didn't every household have a full set of the mugs that they stole? In hindsight, A & W must have told the waitresses to turn a blind eye to the mug theft, as a marketing tool, cuz how else did they not notice all the mugs were missing when they picked up the trays?

Good god, how old am I? I remember all of these.

Why should your neighbours have to get out of bed, in pjs, disheveled hair, possibly search for their glasses ... to go confront drunken strangers????