Back in January, just before COVID hit, Nick and I were discussing and negotiating our vacation plans for the year. “I want to go somewhere and see something this year,” he said. Yes, yes. I thought to myself. We had gone on a Caribbean cruise for our vacation last year, which, in my opinion, was… Keep reading »
Author: Margaret
Getting a tan
I’ve been obsessed with the idea of getting a tan this year. Part of the appeal is being able to relax and lounge in the sun, and the other part is getting that amazing glow. Subconsciously, I might be trying to make up for my vitamin D deficiency from the Canadian winter. But needless to… Keep reading »
Giving back
A while ago, I discovered a pianist-composer who was featured on Wired Magazine’s YouTube channel. Want to learn how to compose the blues, ragtime, or flamenco? She’s made videos about those. Tired of your rudimentary scales or want to take your technical abilities to the next level? She’ll show you how to improve your trills,… Keep reading »
Turning a new leaf
Nick might have had scurvy when we first met. No, there weren’t any physical symptoms. However, he was living on campus, subsisting on cafeteria food, Kraft dinner, and hamburger helper. A few mealtime interactions quickly established that he was a meat and potatoes loving, chocolate milk drinking, vegetable hating, and add-cheese-to-everything kind of guy. I… Keep reading »
Condo happenings
Downtown condo living can be full of surprises. The usual suspects are listening to late night partiers yell into the night, tolerating the smell of weed in the hallways, concern that pet owners aren’t picking up after their pets, and chair girl. But that’s just scratching the surface. On Wednesday night, the fire alarm in… Keep reading »
Finding a good dry cleaner
Finding a good dryer cleaner in the city is like meeting the unicorn of your laundry dreams. When I began my dry-clean-only journey, I used a delivery service that would come to my doorstep, collect my laundry, dry-clean for me, and then return my items when I called. Little did I know that their prices… Keep reading »
On a mission
“Why do you always have to be on a mission?” Nick would ask. Granted, I hadn’t heard this line in a while. We had banned it from the household because it was starting to become a trigger. “What mission?” I would retort. “I’m not on a mission!” To clue you in, this “mission” that Nick… Keep reading »
Becoming a writer
There is only so much cooking, cleaning, and exercising that one can do under COVID lockdown, within the confines of a condo apartment. Maybe it’s our lack of imagination, or maybe it’s the addictive nature of electronic devices, but let me tell you, we have had way too much screen time in our household lately.… Keep reading »
Living in the shadows
I was not anticipating amazing city views when I moved to my current condo located on the third floor of a downtown building. My focus was on getting a functional full size kitchen, real bedrooms (i.e. with external facing windows, doors that closed, and closet space), all within minimal walking distance to the office and… Keep reading »
Hairdressing adventures
Back in the day, my mom would tell me stories of how she had served as the occasional hairdresser in her youth, providing much needed grooming services free of charge to the aunties in her community. At that time, everybody apparently sported the same blunt communist era haircut. Grannies would get a bob cut, and… Keep reading »