Heat

After an up-and-down spring and a spotty early summer, Toronto’s now in full-blown heat mode. Weather-warning, too-hot-to-be-outside-without-feeling-a-little-nauseated heat. I used to love luxuriating under the sun. Being uncomfortably warm was my preferred state: I felt a certain affinity toward camels, salamanders, and, of course, the mighty kangaroo rat. I inwardly rolled my eyes when people … Continue reading Heat →

MVP

I’m the first to admit that I’m pretty bad when it comes to remembering and remembering to care about my wedding anniversary. It’s inevitably around Canada Day—July 1—when it occurs to me that I got married the weekend between July 1 and July 4. Then comes the part where I try to remember whether the … Continue reading MVP →

Let’s Get Physio, Physio

A few weeks ago, I started going to a physiotherapist around the corner from our apartment. I hadn’t had any physiotherapy since leaving the hospital, and I’d begun to decompensate while waiting for PT through homecare and/or an outpatient musculoskeletal rehabilitation program I’d been referred to. When it had become evident that I needed and … Continue reading Let’s Get Physio, Physio →

Random Acts of Nerding

My husband returned to work on Thursday after a five-day weekend. He spent most of it recouping, running errands, and going to appointments of his own. On Tuesday, however, we took advantage of his weekday availability to venture out of our neighbourhood for the first non-medical-appointment time since I was discharged. We’ve devoted a lot … Continue reading Random Acts of Nerding →

Growing

A feature of our new apartment that we’ve been appreciating more and more, especially as the weather’s turned for the better and we’ve developed cabin fever, is its balcony. When I first got home, I let the balcony become a symbol it didn’t need to be. My husband and my dad understandably hadn’t noticed while … Continue reading Growing →

Labelling

Late last week, a friend gave me one of the finest gifts I’ve ever received: free reign to use her label makers. She must have underestimated how much I love putting labels on stuff. It has to be one of the most satisfying tasks known to humankind; how rewarding it is, after all, to almost … Continue reading Labelling →

No Silver Linings, No Playbook

Well, today’s been a day. Yesterday was too, for that matter. Please note that this post makes no attempt to incorporate humorous anecdotes and won’t end with some nugget of wisdom and/or with a playful splash of optimism. Indeed, it isn’t optimistic at all. Quite the opposite: the unapologetically negative pity party that I’m about … Continue reading No Silver Linings, No Playbook →

The Pantless PSW

As promised, I present to you the second instalment of what I intend(ed) to be a series of posts. Let me just say that I’m pretty proud of myself for following through and returning to the topic of the PSWs who visit me twice daily. Even as I published the first, I knew it was … Continue reading The Pantless PSW →

Ice Queen

Welcome to our household, ice maker. We love you. I’ve had a handful of nicknames over the years, none of which have really stuck. The latest? Ice Queen. This wasn’t inspired, as might be the natural assumption, by my frigidly cold soul, but rather by something more literal. Before last summer, I wasn’t a lover … Continue reading Ice Queen →

Self-Help (Part One)

One of the neat things about having PSWs visit twice a day is that I get to people-watch from the comfort of my own bed. This usually gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction. I love glimpsing into worlds that aren’t my own, even if—especially if?—that other world is as boring as mine is. Please do … Continue reading Self-Help (Part One) →