Choir with Dad

My dad, an accomplished musician and musicologist himself, has consistently encouraged me to foster my own appreciation for and skills in the musical arts. When I was a child, this came mostly in the form of my taking piano lessons—only briefly from him, though, since we quickly discovered that this kind of father-daughter collaboration wasn’t … Continue reading Choir with Dad →

Postponed Trip, Surprisingly Positive Attitude

I slowly worked on a post about a then-upcoming solo trip to Victoria and about how much it meant to me and about how significant it was, etc. etc., for over a week but didn't manage to finish it because I kept having health setbacks that made it difficult both to articulate what I wanted … Continue reading Postponed Trip, Surprisingly Positive Attitude →

It’s Officially Summer, and I’m Not Sure Why I’m Not Dreading the Next Few Months

Friday was the first day of summer, the summer solstice, and my husband's birthday. It was one of the first truly warm and sunny days of 2019, my wonderful mother-in-law was visiting, and even though I was/am still slowly emerging from a pretty rotten couple of weeks, the cause(s) of this rottenness likely triggered by … Continue reading It’s Officially Summer, and I’m Not Sure Why I’m Not Dreading the Next Few Months →

Cottage Time

We celebrated the official start of summer—and my husband’s birthday, and the solstice, and amazing, lovely people—last weekend with a trip to a cottage on Lake Huron. Friends whom we consider more like extended family have a cottage in the area, and their daughter (who's also like family!) owns the one next door to theirs. … Continue reading Cottage Time →

Pops

I’m writing this for my dad on Father’s Day, but it might be a while before he sees it. It’s the weekend, and he manages to confine his usage of the internet (including checking his e-mail) mostly to working hours. Although the fact that he’s a M–F, 9–5 technology guy can be inconvenient from time … Continue reading Pops →

Inspiration Expectation: Why It’s Not OK to Want Me to “Perform” for You

On Monday, a friend sent me an illustration from an Instagram account that I'd never heard of (I'm now hooked). Though the artist's life experience is, of course, different from my own, I was struck by how deeply her sentiment—one that I didn't realize I shared—resonated with me. I'm guessing that a visual would be … Continue reading Inspiration Expectation: Why It’s Not OK to Want Me to “Perform” for You →

Surgery Update, Week 1

This has been a pretty intense week, to put it mildly. From sizeable craniotomy to grid placement to brain swelling to black eye swollen shut to intense pain and nausea necessitating heavy-duty meds to gradual and ongoing recovery, it’s certainly been one to remember. I’m in the EMU now, with the grids implanted. I continue … Continue reading Surgery Update, Week 1 →

Hairstory (Part I: Childhood)

In case the title of this post didn't clue you in, I'm about to give a brief history of my hair, inspired by the series of increasingly drastic haircuts I've been getting leading up to pre-surgery head-shaving. It is thus completely understandable, even admirable, if you choose to stop reading. Can't say I didn't warn … Continue reading Hairstory (Part I: Childhood) →

Giving Thanks

My husband and I got back to Ontario a few hours ago after spending the long weekend at my parents' house in BC. We woke up before 5 a.m. We're both incredibly tired and grumpy. Happy Thanksgiving! Every time I leave Victoria (or NC), I'm reminded how hard it is to be so far from … Continue reading Giving Thanks →