Despite the lack of travel opportunities, I spent a few days this week at a destination resort, aka Peace Arch Hospital, which included: Meals, as long as they were liquid in nature Entertainment thanks to Alex, the Ukranian Robin Williams-esque nurse, who would bound enthusiastically into the room carrying a tray of meds announcing "Hello…

I’ve written about what we call the Covid tax, the premium you pay when prices are higher due to the pandemic. Think shopping at a smaller grocery store to avoid crowds. I’m paying twice what I should for a couple of everyday items shipped from the US. Aside from the tax, the cost of Covid…

…there was internet. Yes, almost a week after the garbage truck took down our overhead cables, internet was finally restored to our house. Insult was added to injury when the technician told me about a nearby apartment that didn't have reception for an entire weekend when a dump truck at a construction site across the…

Yesterday, a typical covidly quiet afternoon, when suddenly there was an exceedingly loud “thwack” against the side of the house. So loud I felt the house shudder ever so slightly. Earthquake? Exceptionally large bird strike? Nope. Picture this – the equivalent of a giant slingshot. A garbage truck did a u-turn in front of our house,…

There are probably many socially isolating folks like us out there who have gotten into the rhythm of their favourite tabletop game. Puzzles, board games, chess maybe? Friends of ours play cribbage daily, with the promise of teaching us when this homebound sentence lifts. C and I play the Croke, aka Crokinoke: Crokinole (/ˈkroʊkɪnoʊl/ KROH-ki-nohl) is a…

If someone had told me last year, that I would have a second birthday during the time of Covid, I'd have been in compete denial. Welcome, reality.  The kids hosted a  Zoom Lobsterfest, sending me to the grocery store to buy the bits for our lobster dinner, plus wine and treats.  C and I did…

In my lifetime I have experienced several of those events, where you remember precisely where you were when you heard devastating world news: In third grade when US President Kennedy was assassinated. I know I've told this before, so skip it if you've heard this. I was in the hallway, a punishment for talking in…

That was me this week, three full days plus one evening on Zoom. Considering the time zone difference and the amount of sitting required, it wasn't bad. Switching out the kitchen chair for a desk chair at my art table helped considerably. The day sessions were with David R Smith from Minnesota, a talented artist and…

A little bit different anyway. For me, that means a departure from my usual photo realistic pet portraits.    Zoom has been my saving grace during these Covid times and this week it connected me to a mini workshop, “Painting Pets in Wild Colours,” taught by Shaunna Russell through Etchrlabs.   I'm looking forward to…

I was thinking how I’ve honed my reading selections during covid times. Most of my books are audio selections chosen from Bookbub and Kindle Daily Deals, for $4.   Why don’t I use the library? I listen while walking in places where I don’t need to be super aware of my surroundings, or those with…